Virginian-Pilot


DATE: Saturday, June 21, 1997               TAG: 9706210344

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   48 lines




WOMAN FEARED TAKEN BY MEN WHO STORMED APARTMENT WITH GUNS

A Norfolk woman was apparently abducted Thursday morning after two men with guns stormed her apartment, police said.

Police spokesman Larry Hill said officers were called to the apartment of 20-year-old Tiffany Woods in the 8800 block of Chesapeake Blvd. just after 5 a.m.

Witnesses, including a man who fled the apartment minutes after the break-in, told them that two men went into the apartment with guns. But what happened after that, Hill said, is still a mystery. Woods has been missing since then.

Police are now investigating it as a home invasion robbery and abduction case, Hill said.

``Apparently the two suspects kicked the door in and they were wearing masks,'' he said. ``She left there against her own will.''

Hill said that Woods' boyfriend and brother were in the apartment when the men broke in. The boyfriend jumped out a window in the apartment and ran away. He was later interviewed by police, Hill said.

The brother, who also witnessed the break-in, has been interviewed by police.

When police arrived, the apartment had been ransacked and Woods was gone, Hill said. A four-door Nissan Maxima was also missing from the apartment most of the day Thursday. Police found it Thursday night in the back parking lot of an apartment complex in the 3700 block of E. Princess Anne Road. There was no sign of Woods. Police are investigating a possible motive, Hill said.

A friend, who said her family has known the Woods family for years, said it is uncharacteristic of Woods not to contact her family.

``Everyone is real concerned,'' said the friend who asked that her name not be used. ``It's not like her at all.''

She described Woods' family in Norfolk as being ``very tight-knit''.

``Everybody's frightened for her,'' the friend said. ``It's upsetting.''

Hill said that if anyone sees the woman, they should get as much detail as possible and call police. ``We're just as concerned as the family is and hoping for her safe return as quickly as possible,'' he said.

Woods is described as black, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. She has short black hair and medium brown complexion.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or Crime Line at 664-4040. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Tiffany Woods KEYWORDS: ABDUCTION KIDNAPPING MISSING PERSON MURDER



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