Burnet County couple held at gunpoint

BURNET COUNTY (KXAN) - A home invasion that left a Burnet County couple in the hospital has neighbors on edge. Early Tuesday morning, three men broke into the home at 301 Stone Mountain Dr. in rural Burnet County and stole the couple's jewelry, credit cards, even a pickup truck and firearms. The couple made it out alive, but only after a beating at gunpoint.

The woman is still in the hospital, while doctors treated and released the man. It's too early to say the thieves targeted this home. But if they didn't, they certainly knew their way around the neighborhood.

Stone Mountain subdivision, a newly developed area, sits just off County Road 120, and homes there can go for close to $1 million. Only a handful, like the one hit overnight, are built, so you can't help but know your neighbors. One man sneaked across the crime scene tape to ask the sheriff how the thieves got through locked gates in the middle of the night. This little community is shut tight after dark, and his neighbors have their own code for their property, as well.

"There are a lot of workers who come in here, and I assume some of them may have the gate code," said Sheriff W.T. Smith. "We don't know if that's related to them."

Smith told KXAN his crime scene unit collected evidence that might indicate why the men struck this house. From scoping out a high-end estate to a random act of violence, he said this type of crime almost never happens in Burnet County.

Janie Prew with the Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers said, "It terrifies the community that someone will come into your home and terrorize you like that and take your valuables. It's scary to know that that's happening now in this area."

Prew was quick to point out a similar armed robbery in neighboring Granite Shoals just two weeks ago, believing criminals are becoming more desperate and dangerous.

"Before we recover from this recession," she said, "crime's going to increase. Austin and San Antonio both are moving out on top of us."

Smith adds, "There's a number of different possibilities, but all of those are speculation at this point."

He also said he hopes this isn't an indicator of an increase in crime, and he knows Burnet County won't rest easy until this case is closed.

The thieves stole a 2002 white Dodge 3/4 ton quad cab pickup truck, Texas license plate 7YC-L23. It has a fuel tank in the bed. If you see the truck, do not approach it, as these men are considered armed and dangerous. Instead, call the Burnet County Sheriff at 512-756-8080.

The Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers are also offering a $2000 reward for the arrest of these suspects. You can reach this group at 1-866-756-8477. However, at this time, the sheriff is not releasing further information about the suspects' descriptions.

KXAN left phone messages for Stone Mountain POA and Martex Investments Ltd., the management company that handles this subdivision. A realtor who deals with home in the particular area told KXAN the sheriff called him to ask about possible surveillance video from the front gate, which should have been locked overnight. He deferred the sheriff to the managment company, which has not returned KXAN's calls at this time.

The Texas Rangers and members of the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab are helping with the investigation.