Arlington man robbed, loses part of arm
Was tied up tight in Phoenix hotel
By Marc Robins, Globe Correspondent | August 11, 2007
An Arlington man is undergoing treatment after losing part of his arm following a robbery in a Phoenix hotel room last month.
Bruce Northrup, 60, a chemical engineer, had been in Phoenix doing work for Habitat for Humanity when he was robbed by two suspects at a hotel on July 28, Phoenix police said.
He was tied up so tightly during the crime that circulation was cut off to his arm, which led to an infection and eventual amputation.
Northrup is now being treated at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington.
"He's doing fine, as best as he can be under the circumstances," his wife, Roberta Saltzberg, said by phone last night. "He has a positive attitude, and I think that he will get through this just fine -- I hope."
Phoenix police said the robbery occurred after Northrup walked back to his hotel room from his car about 5 p.m. One man approached him, asking him for a cigarette.
After Northrup said he didn't have any cigarettes, the suspect followed him back into his room, holding him at gunpoint and binding his hands and feet with various items from the room, police said.
A second suspect came into the room and placed Northrup into the bathtub and told him not to move.
The two took Northrup's computer, checks, credit cards, and rental car, police said. The suspects then fled, leaving Northrup tied up in the bathtub.
"Mr. Northrup was left in the bathtub and tried to scream for help but no one heard him," said Sergeant Joel Tranter of the Phoenix Police Department. "He was left in the tub until 24 hours later, when housekeeping found him late Sunday afternoon."
Police and fire officials were called to the scene. By the time Northrup was found, he had developed gangrene in his left hand, which had to be amputated up to the forearm at a local hospital, police said. There also was damage to the right arm, but police think that it could be saved.
"Mr. Northrup is a chemical engineer by trade, but painting is his hobby," Tranter said. "He wanted to do everything he could to save his right hand."
Correspondent Claire Cummings contributed to this report.
© Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company
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