Smyrna Home Invasion Suspect IDed, Sought

SMYRNA, GA — Smyrna police are seeking a suspect from Dunwoody in a March 26 home invasion during which a crying woman conned a woman into opening her door for two masked men who then robbed the home.

Ricky Grace, 24, has been charged with first-degree residential burglary, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and cruelty to children, according to the Smyrna Police Department.

According to police, a woman and two men broke into a home on the 5100 block of Inwood Place and demanded money at gunpoint. The homeowner was able to run away from her home with her two children and call 911 from a neighbor's house, police spokesman Sgt. Louis Defense said.

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In a surveillance video, the woman can be heard claiming to know someone who lives at the home and saying she needs money to have an abortion. She starts pretending to cry, which is when the homeowner opens the door. In a second segment of the video, the two masked men can be seen leaving the home.

The robbery was caught on the homeowner's doorbell camera system. The woman has since been arrested and is being held at Cobb County Jail, Defense said.

During their investigation, police from Smyrna and Dunwoody secured a search warrant for Grace's home. Two other people were arrested for drug possession and possession of a stolen gun, but Grace was not home.

Police ask anyone with information about his whereabouts to call 911 or the Smyrna Police Department at 770-434-6666. He is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached, police said Friday.

Tips also can be shared anonymously to Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577- TIPS (8477). Rewards can be up to $2,000.

Photos courtesy Smyrna Police Department