92-Year-Old Man Chews Through Restraints After Burglary
- Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:03am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
SHORELINE, Wash. (The Blaze/AP) — The King County sheriff’s office says a 92-year-old Shoreline man chewed through restraints to free himself after two men robbed his house.
Sgt. John Urquhart says that on Monday two men knocked on Lester Matteson’s door and asked to use his phone, claiming their car had broken down. But once they entered, the men grabbed the victim’s arms and held them while they used masking tape to tape him to a chair.
Urquhart says the men ransacked the house, eventually taking off with more than $400 in cash and the victim’s 2000 Ford pickup truck.
It took Matteson, a WWII vet, two hours to chew through the masking tape. Other than bruises, he was not injured.
“They had it all planned. They knew it was an easy mark here,” he told KOMO-TV. “The next thing you know they had their tape, grabbed me and strapped me to the chair. They just grabbed my arms and started wrapping. My legs were taped to the chair.”
“I wasn’t frightened,” he added. “I just couldn’t do nothing about it, I’m 92. At 92, you don’t wrestle two young men. I have a hard time walking up the hill.”
And he says he’s learned his lesson: “Watch out who you let in.”
The robbers are still at large.
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 679 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 636 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 523 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 360 Comments
Have You Seen the Giant ‘Sand Obama’ Sculpture in Charlotte? 312 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 134 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 184 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 146 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 134 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (52)
MichiganPatriot
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:14pmGod will teach these young men. The bible tells us we reap what we sow.
Report Post »JustPeachy
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:00pmMy reaction to this story was anger, too. I have two elderly parents–Dad is 87, Mom is 88 and an 88-year-old father-in-law as well. This story makes me sick!
I agree their descriptions should be plastered everywhere and I hope they are caught and held accountable for this crime (and any others they’ve done!).
This poor man. He did the right thing by not trying to resist, but two hours to get loose. No way to use facilities, get food or water–and God forbid if anything else had happened (a fire, another intruder, etc.) who knows what else may have befallen him?!?
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:00pmThat’s why I have a cordless phone. They never get to get inside the house. If they are cold then I will give them a match. But they aren’t getting in the house.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:49amBEST news we have had in days.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:48amwe knew it! we knew it!! a WWII VET !!! there’s an American with balls! yay for him!!!!
N37BU6
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:37amI don’t know how people can do stuff like this.
Report Post »ReaganBaby
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:37amNYC Can’t shovel their own driveway, but a 92 yr old WWII vet can chew his way to freedom…look how far we have come. You are a good man grandpa! I hope we can all learn something here.
Report Post »CameronIL
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:24amAs 1000 baby boomers are now retiring everyday, they make good targets for crime. Home security should be considered and if you are qualified you have a right to carry in our own home.
Report Post »lynda1276
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:37pmyou’re a zero off- it’s 10,000 baby boomers retiring per day for the next 19 years- so lots of targets
Report Post »Time Rebel
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:11amSmart man – reminds me of my 87 year old Dad. My Dad is armed for home invasions, but not in his car. I just bought he and Mom some pepper spray for their key chains. These things work great to temporarily stop bad guys so you can run for help. It is a crying shame that our elderly citizens are so often targeted by evil doers. Like the man in this article says: an old man cannot take on two strapping young men. The young men know that, and THAT is what makes those two young scumbags BIG LOSERS!
Report Post »ShineTheLightBrighter
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:01amWatch out for our seniors. They have big hearts and are way to willing to help out. My 82 year old mother-in-law would open the door to anyone. Fortunately we installed a heavy duty screen security door and she has a 100 pound Akita that loves her to death but will take your hand off if she doesn’t like you. Nobody comes into that house that the dog doesn’t like. If she were safe with a gun we would have gone that route but the dog is a much better judge of character than my mother-in-law.
Report Post »parmajohn
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:51amJust Imagine if the old guy pulled a piece and tied the punks up till law enforcement arrived…..
Report Post »murphytavern
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:47amthis is sick the cops need to find these punks and take to a dark alley somewhere and give them an attitude adjustment
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:36pmAnd make it severe enough so they walk with a limp for the rest of their worthless lives
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:31amNever, Never open your door to strangers. I pray they catch these 2 cowards…picking on a 92 year old man. What sickos!
Report Post »ovrwlmd
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:29amHope I can still chew at 92.
Report Post »23
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:51ami hope i’m still alive at 92!
Report Post »petestreet
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:28amKing county is commie land, if they catch the perps they will say the poor boys had a bad childhood because of selfish rich people. Good for the old vet he is well. Punish criminals not coddle them.
Report Post »rbqueen
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:33amYep, the government will probably wind up arresting Mr. Matteson and charge him with escaping from captivity after the robbery is done and forcing him to pay those two poor young innocents for the duct tape that they had to use with interest. I’m sure that is what Obama and the DHS would do if they had the chance.
Report Post »stmike
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:24amGrrrr that burns me up. No respect for the elderly and a WWII vet too. That goes to show the resilience of that generation though. A good set of teeth and determination to chew his way out. You go poppy!!! What would some weenie lib do in that situation? Cry about it? Wait for his government shepherd? God bless this vet.
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:33pmTrue grit!
Report Post »Dirty Harry
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:21amDouble tap, twice.
Report Post »tjdavid21444
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:21amWhere’s the description of the perps? All we know from this story is “2 men.” How about a description? Or would that be insensitive or profiling? I’m not going to say it here, but whenever the media leaves out the description of perpetrators of crime, I usually come to 1 or 2 conclusions.
Report Post »ReaganBaby
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:41amThey were probably illegals, its against the law to say
Report Post »ENTITLEMENTSBLOW
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:21amWow, there are really awful people that exist in this nation…
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:30pmYes there are – when I worked for the police department, I learned to expect just about anything!
Report Post »http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Reagan/DeMint.deciple
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:19amDoesn’t pay to be the decent neighbor these days.. I mean two guys have to duct tape him to a chair ?? The poor man is 92 … This man fought for OUR country so these animals can rob HIM ? WTF ? I’m PISSED !!!!!! All they has to do was tell him to sit there, do their thing ,and take off ,what could a 92 year old do to two young thugs ? I swear ,I wish i could get my hands on these losers for just 2 mins, that’s all I would need…. I wish I knew somewhere I could send OUR veteran some of the money that was stolen..
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:06pmI got a better idea for these two who did this; instead of laying hands on them just throw each into a pit with starved wolves or lions for a couple of minutes, will solve repeat offender possibilities.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:19amI heard about this story yesterday; I am glad the man survived, and could get himself freed. This does show how careful we all need to be anymore letting any strangers into our houses.
Report Post »mdlwoods
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:16amHmmm. This man didn’t wait for government to help him! He did it himself!
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:37amIt’s a good thing he still had his teeth, think about how long it would take to gum through masking tape. http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »Toodumtu
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:15amGood case for the right to carry.
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:25amNo need to make a case for right to carry. Can’t take away my right. Already got my guns and ammo.
Report Post »stmike
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:28amI was gonna say that too. Remember Gran Torino? “Get Off My Lawn!”
Report Post »dantom
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:37amEverybody should carry.
Report Post »PDfromToledo
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:15amRock on Grandpa!!! You’re my hero.
Report Post »bookofwisdom
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:15amThank God Mr. Matteson was not hurt. At least the young men had enough sense to just tape him to the chair. I hope they catch them and do more than a slap on the wrist. It’s really sickening when you want to help people, but have to be afraid of what will happen to you if you do. May God Bless.
Report Post »marhee9
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:33am@BOOKOFWISDOM – I couldn’t agree more. The decline in our society over the past few decades is appalling. We are definitely on the slippery slope.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – check out the Al Sharpton vs. Rush Limbaugh video.
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:34amI’m glad this guy was able to free himself. What a disturbing story. Who could do this to a 92 year old man?
Report Post »bigdaddybernie
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:46amGo gettem’ Granpaw !
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:39pmgood thing he still had his teeth
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:05pmGood thing indeed they did not hurt him; even having him restrained could be a shock to the system if the circulation of blood becomes impaired. Agree with all of you these two need to get more than just a slap on the wrist if caught and convicted; sometimes I think the lands where caning is still allowed on the posterior region may be onto something.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:31pmYoung people have lost the gift of discipline that us older people enjoyed. Yes, discipline given by parents and society is a gift that serves you well in life. Without proper reproof, you wind up worthless, good for nothing men.
Report Post »