W. Harris Co. home invasion victim offers to pay for suspects' education

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A home invasion victim says she and her husband are willing to pay for an education for suspects who put their housekeeper in a closet and tied his hands behind his back during a robbery last month.

"We want to be able to say to them that they could make better choice, so they don't have any excuse in the future to look back and say they had to be felons or bad guys," said Arielle Lawson, the homeowner.

The incident happened October 17 at a home in the 11800 block of Red Coat Lane in west Harris County. According to police, someone knocked on the door and when the housekeeper answered, she found a Hispanic man holding two cardboard packages.

The housekeeper told investigators that two other males wearing black ski masks and gloves holding a handgun forced their way past her into the home. The suspects then reportedly locked the housekeeper in a closet.

The homeowner arrived in the middle of the robbery and was forced at gunpoint to open his safe. The suspects grabbed a large amount of cash, jewelry and guns from that safe, then tied the homeowner's hands behind his back.

The suspects took cell phones from the homeowner and housekeeper and fled on foot.

"My husband is...very hurt. My children have been traumatized, and one of my children he cannot sleep at night," said Lawson.

But as traumatic as the experience was, the power of this offer is something even their kids, who say they are grateful for their privilege, realize.

"I'm just glad that if the people do think about turning themselves in, they might be able to have a better education and go on with a different life instead of just being a criminal," said Lawson's 11-year-old daughter.

Investigators say when they talked to the homeowner, he offered -- if caught -- to pay for an education for the suspects to get them out of a life of crime. But he also understands that they'll likely end up in prison.

Anyone with information on the suspects is urged to contact Crime Stoppers and the Memorial Villages Police Department at 713-365-3700 or 713-365-3758. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000, while the family is offering another $5,000.