Ann Litaker has multiple sclerosis and needs a wheelchair to get around. So when she recently heard knocking on her door,

Charlotte News

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ann Litaker has multiple sclerosis and needs a wheelchair to get around. So when she recently heard knocking on her door, she wasn't able to answer it quickly.

“When they got through knocking on the door and ringing the door bell, they just kicked the door in,” she said.

In the middle of the afternoon, a group of men broke into Litaker's south Charlotte home.

“He ran by me with the TV set and just started laughing because he knew I couldn't do anything. He ran out door,” she said.

Litaker hasn’t been the only victim. Since Halloween, Investigator Oli Swenson says the South Division has seen dozens of home break-ins.

Swenson said all had the same method of operation.

“All they're doing is kicking in the front door, bam and grab stuff,” he said.

Police say they perpetrators are often two to four black men with dreadlocks. They'll back their car into the driveway and knock on the door. If it appears no one is home, they'll kick in the door and take whatever they can.

On Nov. 8 the group used a stolen gold Lexus and hit seven homes. On Jan. 2, police say the group broke into nine homes, including one near the Ballantyne Country Club.

“They're just brazen, just going in, hitting the front door, taking property,” Swenson said.

For Litaker, the incident has left her helpless and angry after living safely in her home for 40 years. Now she said she feels imprisoned by fear.

“They made me extremely nervous, phone rings, any loud noise just scares me to death,” she said.

Police said the fact that the group has used several cars in the break-ins makes the case harder to solve. They want neighbors to be on alert and call them as soon as they see something suspicious.