Cops: Robbers attack boy left home alone

A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY was confronted by three armed home invaders in Upper Darby on Monday morning, and it wasn't the first time the teen had faced down at least one of the intruders, according to police.

About 11:30 a.m., the boy was alone at his house on Littlecroft Road near Marshall when a noise led him to his mother's room. There, he saw a man climbing through the second-floor window, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.

The boy went to get a phone to call 9-1-1, but the alleged intruder, Daniel Taylor, 28, of Philadelphia, was able to grab the teen by his arm, police said.

Taylor then put a .40-caliber Glock to the back of the boy's head and told him to "chill out," Chitwood said.

Taylor forced the boy downstairs, where he made him shut off the house alarm, police said. Taylor then opened the front door and let in his accomplices, Terreek Irving, 25, of Upper Darby, and Imanuel Forbes, 27, of Darby, Chitwood said.

A vigilant neighbor, however, saw Irving and Forbes hoisting Taylor up to the second-floor window and called 9-1-1.

So, soon after the three men entered the house, it was surrounded by police, Chitwood said.

Forbes, who was holding the young boy, tried to take off with him through a rear basement door, but ran back inside when he saw that cops had the house surrounded. The teen was able to flee to officers, authorities said.

Police arrested all three men, and they are now facing charges of robbery, terroristic threats and related offenses. They were each jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail.

In a disturbing twist, the 13-year-old had recognized Forbes as one of two men who had tried to break into his house in the last week of July when he was home alone, Chitwood said.

The suspects have offered several reasons for why they twice targeted the house, including that the boy's stepfather owes one of them money or that he may be in possession of marijuana, according to police. However, Chitwood said officers found the house to be well-kept and said there were no signs of illegal activities.

"Let me say this to you, these guys don't pick these houses out of the blue," Chitwood said. "For these guys to come back twice in a broad-daylight home invasion is brazen."

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