No Laughing Matter

Elderly Highland Park couple robbed at knifepoint thought crime was a prank

A Highland Park couple survived a violent robbery outside their home in the 3600 block of Stratford Avenue on August 9. The assailants, who were wearing ski masks and wielding knives, accosted Dr. Tom and Suzanne Dees around 9:20 pm.

According to police, the couple arrived home after dining at the Dallas Country Club and parked in their driveway. After Mrs. Dees had gotten out the car, the 73-year-old was leaning on her cane when she felt someone grab her purse. At the same time, another person held Mr. Dees, 82, at knifepoint while he sat inside the vehicle.

One of the robbers demanded Mrs. Dees give up purse and jewelry, to which she responded, "Like hell I will," believing that the entire encounter was an elaborate prank by one of her sons.

Undeterred, Mrs. Dees told police that she attempted to pull off the robber's mask. He then pushed her and grabbed her purse.

Meanwhile, another assailant pressed a knife into Mr. Dees' chest and told him to hand over his wallet and jewelry. Mr. Dees also thought the crime was a joke and refused to give up his valuables.

When the robber said, "I'll stab you if you don't," Mr. Dees reportedly responded, "That's enough of this shit," and slammed his car door, causing the robber to cry out in pain. Both men then fled the location with Mrs. Dees' black Chanel purse in tow.

The assailants are described as men between 5 feet 9 inches and 6-feet tall, with muscular builds. The men were wearing dark clothing that covered their skin. Sgt. Lance Koppa said Highland Park Department of Public Safety is working with neighboring law enforcement agencies to investigate the crime.

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Free Food

Food Bank to host summer food giveaway at UNT Dallas campus

Photo by Michael Martin

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Two Dallas organizations are partnering on a big summer food giveaway: The North Texas Food Bank is joining forces with the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNT Dallas) with a mobile food distribution event at the UNT Dallas campus on Friday, July 18.

UNT Dallas and the NTFB already host a drive-through mobile pantry each month, but this one is specifically focused on children who are out of school for the summer.

Each participating family will receive about 60 pounds of food, including fresh produce, to help fill the gap left when school-provided meals are unavailable.

So far this year, the monthly mobile pantry events at UNT Dallas have provided approximately 140,000 pounds of food to more than 1,500 families and 7,000 people. Long lines usually form on University Hills Blvd. well before the gates open.

UNT Dallas has partnered with NTFB since 2020, hosting monthly mobile food distributions on campus. Each event is supported by student, faculty, and staff volunteers, providing relief to campus and community members. The university also operates the Trailblazers Care Pantry, an on-campus resource that provides groceries, hygiene products, and a Career Closet for students preparing for interviews or internships.

A recent Feeding America study found that Texas has the highest number of food-insecure people of any state, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area ranks third in the nation. Within NTFB’s 12-county service area, nearly 744,000 people, including more than 250,000 children, don’t always know where their next meal will come from. Over 60 percent of that population lives in Dallas County.

The July 18 food distribution is first-come, first-served, and no ID or pre-registration is required. Participants must arrive in a vehicle, as this is a drive-through-only event. It'll run from 8-11 am, or while supplies last, at the UNT Dallas campus in southern Dallas, at 7300 University Hills Blvd.

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