Man, 87, victim of Port Richmond home invasion

PORT RICHMOND (WPVI) -- An 87-year-old man was the victim of a home invasion on Thursday afternoon in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.

It happened around 12:13 p.m. in the 3500 block of Emerald Street.

Police say the victim, former Frankford High School teacher Richard Nowakowski, answered a knock at the door from someone saying there was a gas leak.

When then door opened, four men in their 20s, some wearing hoodies, forced their way inside.

"He said he was from the gas company, showed him a badge, my uncle cracked the door, said 'I'm going to call the gas company to verify.' Then they pushed in the door," said his nephew.

"They turned around, they told him that if he didn't give him money or whatever that they were going to beat him up," said his niece, Evelyn Whitehouse.

The suspects then fled with cash and a cell phone, police say, and were last seen walking northbound on Emerald Street.

The victim was not injured.

His relatives said they had told Nowakowski not to keep cash around, and they hope to move him out of his home of at least 40 years as soon as Thursday night.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.