The thieves even stole a piggy bank that was in the house, along with eletronics and cash.
When we hear the bell ring at home, we don't really give a second thought before opening the door to see who it is, right? Recently, a family in Bronx, New York, experienced a rather traumatic ordeal after a thief, dressed up as a UPS worker, and his accomplice invaded a home.
The robbery took place on the afternoon of December 17, 2021, in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. The suspect rang the victims' doorbell while wearing a hat with the letters UPS on it and holding a box, according to a statement from the New York City Police Department emailed to PEOPLE.
"Upon the victim opening the door, the individual pushed her inside the apartment and revealed that he had a silver revolver inside of the box. After the individual gained entry, a second individual joined him," the statement read. "At gunpoint, the individuals demanded that the 60-year-old female victim, her 63-year-old husband, and their grandchildren, an 8-year-old male and a 6-year-old female, use zip ties to bind themselves."
🚨WANTED🚨for a Robbery inside of an apartment located at 1860 Billingsley Terrace #universityheights #bronx On 12/20/21 @ 7:00 PM Reward up to $3500 Seen them? Know who they are? Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us! Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! #yourcityyourcall pic.twitter.com/iSA6uxrwXk
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) December 21, 2021
"They took everything. They took everything for Christmas," the grandfather told WLNY, as translated by his building's superintendent Raul Ortiz. "It's home invasion — worse than robbery. Tie you up and everything," Ortiz said.
The suspect can be seen standing by the apartment door, as his accomplice paced in a nearby hallway. After they raided the home, they were seen carrying bags filled with stolen goods out of the building lobby. "They came in here, rushed on my parents acting like UPS workers. Tied them up, took a couple of stuff from here," the victim's son, who was not home at the time, said. "They're scared. They're still scared," the son continued. "They took the kids' phones and tablets… took cash they found around the house."
The two thieves stole Apple electronics and over $7,500 in cash from both a safe as well as a piggy bank, police confirmed. The cops have now issued a warning, telling people not to open the door before checking to see who is at the door. Unless someone is expecting a package or does not recognize who is at the door, or if something just does not feel right, then please don't open the door, they added.
What nasty Grinch Creeps steals a Christmas tree and ties up elderly and kids and robs their home? This is just sickening.
— Atse (@atse12345) December 22, 2021
Meanwhile, anyone with any information about the burglary suspects in the Bronx is requested to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
References:
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/12/21/bronx-couple-grandkids-tied-up-robbed/
Cover Image Source: Twitter | NYPD Crime Stoppers
