Cops Hunt For 3 Men In Bronx Gunpoint Home Invasion, Robbery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The NYPD was searching Friday evening for a suspect who held a 79-year-old Bronx man at gunpoint in his own home, in a horrifying incident that of which much was caught on surveillance video.
As CBS 2's Diane Macedo reported, the robbery took place at around 9 p.m. Sunday at 169th Street and Fulton Avenue in the Morrisania section of the Bronx.
A sign in Spanish outside Oscar Arocho's home says "danger – private property, no trespassing." But Arocho said three men clearly ignored that warning when they came onto his property, burglarized his home and held him at gunpoint.
"When I came home, I opened the gate, I looked -- the door glass was broke, and I said, 'Wow what happened?'" Arocho said.
He went to take a closer look and opened the door, and that was when he saw them.
"When I turn to look, the guy came over here and pushed me inside the house, and then the other two came from the other place to help him out and put me on the floor," Arocho said.
Surveillance video then shows the attackers tie Arocho up and try to put a hood over his head while he was tied up with a dog leash.
"I gave them my money, I gave them my jewelry. They wanted to search the house," he said.
But he said the heist was cut short when a friend of his coincidentally stopped by. When the attackers heard someone approaching, they fled.
"She saved my life, because who knows what happen if she didn't come," Arocho said.
Arocho's neighbors said they are especially surprised the attack happened in a house with so much security -- and on a relatively quiet street.
"I thought that you guys were here to film the chickens, because (Arocho) has so many chickens, and then to find out what happened -- it just, it startled me," said Sherita Plummer, who works at a day care center next door.
"I'm very surprised about that. I'm very disappointed too, because he is a very nice, friendly guy, he helps everybody out in the neighborhood," added neighbor Kim Bidias.
Police say the thieves made off with $500 and jewelry, but Arocho said there is one saving grace.
"I'm happy because I have the camera, and sooner or later they're going to get him," he said. "I hope they face a long, long sentence. They could have killed me."
Anyone with any information about the incident, or if anyone recognizes the suspects in the photos, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You can also text your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website.
All calls are confidential.
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