Staff Writer

Authorities are searching for two men who forced their way into a Union residence early this morning and robbed a man at gunpoint.

Union Public Safety officers were dispatched to a residence at 105 Malone St. shortly before 2 a.m. in response to a report of a robbery. The victim told officers that shortly after 1:30 a.m., two black males with do rags covering their faces forced their way into his home through the front door. He said the men were armed and forced four other people in the house to lay down on the floor. They then began demanding money. One of the gunmen walked the victim back through the house at gunpoint looking for money and other valuables.

Money and other items worth $435 were reported stolen from three of the victims. One told police that the intruders stole his brown wallet containing $150 and his personal papers as well as $50 in change and a Samsung I-Pod player. A second victim said $25 was stolen from him and the third said a red Samsung cell phone was stolen from him.

The intruders are described as being around 20 years old. One is 6 feet tall, weighing 160 lbs. and the other is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing140 lbs.

The case is still under investigation.

Barber shop burglary

The Public Safety Department is also investigating a burglary at the Dawkins Barber Shop at 25 West Main St.

The incident occurred sometime between midnight Monday and 2 p.m. Tuesday when someone broke out the plywood on the side door of the building. The owner reported that the thief or thieves took three pairs of clippers, two edgers, approximately $8 from a drawer and an unknown number of candy bars and drinks. The total value of the items stolen is estimated $678.

Copper wire theft

The Union County Sheriff's Office is investigating the larceny of $1,200 worth of copper wire from a rental property at 125 Hill St. Buffalo.

The incident occurred sometime between 8 a.m. Sunday and 3 p.m. Tuesday. The owner told deputies that someone went into the crawl space under the building and stole electrical copper wire.

Business break-in

The sheriff's office is also investigating a burglary and act of vandalism at Howell Auto Sales on the Kelly Road.

The owner told deputies that sometime between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday, someone ransacked her business. Deputies report that papers, glass, TVs and other equipment were on the floor and broken. The only thing reported stolen were two stereos - one of them small with a single speaker and the other a large floor model with two speakers - two CD players and two tape players.

The stereos are valued at $550 and the damage to the building estimated at $200.

Arrests

The following arrests were reported by the sheriff's office: