Investigation Widens In Palos Verdes Estates Home Invasion Robbery

PALOS VERDES ESTATES (CBSLA.com) — Police were seeking the public's help Sunday in locating four men suspected of committing a home invasion robbery Saturday night.

According to the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department, officers were sent around 8 p.m. to a home in the 1700 block of Lower Paseo La Cresta, for report of a home invasion robbery that had just occurred.

Once on scene, officers located two residents who were robbed at gunpoint after being tied up by four suspects that were described as black men wearing masks.

On Sunday, CBS2's Greg Mills reported that search for the four suspects was expanding while area residents and visitors said the incident scared them.

"It's shocking that it happened," said Bill Moore, who has lived in Palos Verdes Estates for seven years.

"It's always been a place that I've considered a safe area, so it's scary," said Christina Hernandez of Irvine, who loves to come to the area to spend time and enjoy lunch with friends.

"The couple, they are still very shaken up over this," said Palos Verdes Estates police Sgt. Steve Barber. "Obviously, it's a very traumatic incident."

The alarm system was not on when the intruders got into the home through an unlocked door in the garage about 7:30 p.m., Barber said. They pointed guns at the couple, demanded money and jewelry before tying them up. The gunmen spent about 30 minutes ransacking the home, and got away with an undetermined amount of cash and jewelry.

It remains unclear if the couple was targeted by the suspects, or they were chosen at random, Barber said. Mills reported that it is the first home invasion robbery in the area perhaps as many as 15 years.

Detectives asked the public to come forward with any information that may be related to the case, by calling (310) 378-4211.

RELATED: 4 Armed Robbers Tie Up Residents At Palos Verdes Estates Home