Apologetic Kansas City burglar pleads guilty

A Kansas City man who apologized to his victim before robbing her of jewelry and other valuables pleaded guilty Monday as his trial was to start.

Andre Blocker, 53, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary for cutting his way into the woman’s apartment and robbing her.

According to court documents:

The victim lived in the 900 block of Broadway. She had been asleep when a noise woke her about 10 a.m. one day last September.

A man opened her bedroom door and said “I’m sorry” before shutting it.

He soon reopened the door and took the victim’s cellphone, pieces of jewelry valued at about $6,000, and a laptop computer in a pink case. He ordered her into a bathroom, told her to give police an incorrect description of him and tied the door shut using an electrical cord from an alarm.

She soon escaped and called police, who found a hole approximately 12 inches by 12 inches cut in the wall of the guest bedroom. It led to a maintenance room and a hallway.

Police tracked Blocker through a witness who saw him get into a cab. When they found him at 11th Street and Benton Boulevard, he was holding a pink bag while standing on the front steps of a residence. A laptop computer and a jewelry box were inside the bag. Police found other items belonging to the victim inside the residence.

Blocker told police he took the items because his drug dealer had placed an order for expensive jewelry and laptops.

Blocker also pleaded guilty Monday to charges in two other pending burglary cases. His sentencing has been scheduled for July 31.

This story was originally published June 1, 2015 at 3:21 PM with the headline "Apologetic Kansas City burglar pleads guilty."