Residents On Alert Following Home Invasion In Bellmore
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A family was tied up and robbed in a frightening attack in Bellmore, Long Island Friday morning.
As CBS 2's Alice Gainer reported, police were searching late Friday afternoon for three armed men.
A man identified as the homeowner was seen standing outside of his home on Ellen Road Friday afternoon. He was wearing a hospital bracelet and his head was heavily damaged, after police said he was pistol-whipped during the robbery.
A relative outside did not want to go into detail.
"We're very upset," The man said.
Construction crews hammering is a familiar sound on Ellen Road, where residents are fixing up homes damaged by a recent storm, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported. The family that was targeted was having their kitchen remodeled, and the windows on the side of their home were boarded up while a dumpster was parked in front.
There were real construction workers in the home at the time. But around 10:40 a.m. Friday, Nassau County police said the home was broken into by three black men dressed as construction workers wearing hard hats and dust masks.
Police said the suspects tied up and robbed the homeowner, his wife and the three real construction workers who were working inside the home at the time of the incident, Rivera reported.
The suspects pistol-whipped the man and tied everyone's hands and feet, police said. They took cash and jewelry and left in a gray van, police said.
The husband who was pistol-whipped had recently sold his business, and police said he was targeted in the robbery.
Neighbors said the suspects clearly knew what they were doing.
"All over the neighborhood, there's construction workers and stuff; people re-doing their houses," one neighbor said.
Parents at a nearby school received a lockdown announcement Friday afternoon.
An email was also sent to residents from the North and Central Merrick neighborhood watch, that said: We received the following message from the South Bellmore Civic Association:
Residents,
There was a home invasion this morning on Ellen Road.
3 black males w/ weapon & on the loose. Helicopters are overhead searching.
Please be alert & be safe.
Dennis, the homeowner's father-in-law, said he wants the suspects caught.
"Look for the people that committed this, get them what they deserve," he said.
And when the police tape came down, neighbors all agreed that doors that were once left open will now be shut.
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