A family of five faced a terrifying ordeal in their Queens residence on Monday morning, as they were taken hostage and robbed at gunpoint, according to law enforcement and insider reports.
In a startling incident, armed suspects, including one clad in an Amazon delivery vest, reportedly forced their way into a residence near 152nd Street and 12th Avenue in Whitestone at approximately 9:05 a.m., according to police and sources.
Officials reported that the front door of the residence was found unlocked after one of the children departed for school on Monday morning.
Authorities report that a group of men reportedly compelled a 42-year-old father and a 39-year-old mother, along with their three children, into the basement while they searched the home, ultimately departing with an undisclosed sum of cash and jewellery.
Authorities report that the suspect made a hasty getaway in the couple’s vehicle, which was subsequently discovered abandoned near 154th Street and 14th Avenue, as stated by the NYPD.
On a typical Monday morning, John Nardone, a local resident, witnessed a panicked man burst from his home on 152nd Street as he headed to work.
“It looked like he was pulling something down, and I realized it was duct tape,” Nardone said. “I was like ‘Are you okay?’ He said his kids were in the basement.”
No arrests have been made. No injuries reported.
Authorities are on the lookout for two individuals aged between 40 and 50. One individual sported a black hooded sweatshirt, while the other was clad in an Amazon delivery vest.
The inquiry continues to unfold.
