A man armed with a shotgun brought along a young child during a home invasion robbery leaving her crying on the front porch as he forced a family to the ground early Monday morning.

Police in Port Arthur are hoping to get some answers to the child’s, and the robber’s identity, PAPD Det. Mike Hebert said.

The victims had heard a knock at the door shortly before 6 a.m. in the 2500 block of Duff Drive and opened the door to see a man with a shotgun.

He is described as a black male between 5-foot 8-inches in height with thin build. He was wearing all black including a black hoodie but he was not wearing a mask.

“He forced his way in and starts demanding money,” Hebert said. “As this happened they (victims) see what they described as a 9 to 10 year old female black in pajamas. She was on the porch with him as he entered the home and she’s crying.”

Detectives believe the suspect brought his daughter to the crime.

The suspect then made the victims get on the ground and they surrendered an unknown amount of cash. He then left with the cash and the child in a small, dark colored passenger car.

Prior incident

This was not the victims’ first encounter with the suspect. Five days prior to this, the same man went to the house. There is a language barrier and when the female victim of the house opened the door the man showed her a photo of the same little girl, Hebert said. The woman then slammed the door in the man’s face.

Police theorize that the man was telling the woman that he needs money for food for the child but this is just speculation. And this was likely how the suspect cased the home before the robbery.

PAPD’s Criminal Investigation Division is handling the case and hope that by putting this information out to the public, that someone will recognize the child from this crime.

If you have information about this crime or any other crime, call the Port Arthur Police Department at 983-8600 or Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 409-833-TIPS. You won’t be asked your name and you may be eligible for a cash reward. You can also make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smartphone.