Police: Suspects Fled After Failed Attempt At Push-In Robbery In The Bronx
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Two men tried to force their way into a Bronx apartment on Monday morning, but couldn't get past the front door.
According to authorities, two men attempted to gain entry to a 31-year-old woman's apartment on Home Street and Bryant Avenue by pushing their way through the front door. They couldn't get in and fled the location.
As CBS2's Ali Bauman reported, the men brought balloons and flowers, and were fought off by the woman they tried to rob.
They lingered outside of the home just after 7 a.m. on Monday. One of the men hid under the stairs, while the other waited outside of a first floor apartment for more than 20 minutes.
"I was sleeping, and I was the one that heard the knock. So, I told my mom someone's knocking at the door," the woman's son said.
Inside a mother was getting ready for the day with her 9-year-old son and baby girl. They were too afraid to show their faces.
The mother speaks little English so her son interpreted for her.
"She didn't see nobody like three or five minutes after that. She was gonna go out to buy me a sandwich, that's when they started to push the door to get in," he said.
The mother said the man's face was blocked by balloons and flowers, but once he ran off his shoe remained right there.
The family has no idea who would want to go after them. The attacker said nothing while trying to push his way in.
Even though neighbors passed by without stopping some say it looked suspicious.
"Who's gonna knock at that time with balloons and flowers," one neighbor said.
Residents said the only gift they want, if for the suspects to be found.
Police have not determined if this was a random or targeted attack.
The suspects have been described as Hispanic males. One was between 20 and 30 years old, 5'10" 180-lbs, with a black and grey sweater, brown pants, a green baseball cap, and tan shoes.
The other suspect was between 20 and 25 years old, 5'8" to 5'10" 160 to 170-lbs, and was wearing a gray hoodie with blue jeans and black sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding this incident has been asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577. All calls will be kept confidential.