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Greenwich Police Investigating Violent Home Invasion

GREENWICH, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Police were investigating Wednesday, after a daylight home invasion sent jitters through a neighborhood just blocks from downtown Greenwich, Conn.

As CBS 2's Lou Young reported, police saturated the area around East Elm Street in Greenwich, one day after the shocking home invasion.

The home invasion happened about 4 p.m. Tuesday, just after the renovation contractors next door knocked off for the day. The men entered the yard, and screened from view by the high wooden fence, they simply forced their way inside, beat and tied the woman up and demanded to know where the money was.

The home had been unlocked at the time of the incident, police said.

Police believe the home was intentionally targeted by thieves who knew the family kept a large amount of cash on hand.

The victim's daughter told police she came home around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and found her mother tied up on the second floor of her residence – just 200 yards from an elementary school.

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"The victim was home alone when two male suspects -- described as white, male, dark clothing, ski mask, displaying a handgun -- entered her home," Police Lt. Kraig Gray told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.

The victim said the suspects struck her in the face and then bound her hands and feet before leaving, police said.

The victim suffered minor injuries.

The victim, a woman in her late 50s, hurried inside after speaking with detectives. Her sense of safety has been shattered, police said.

"It's probably one of the scariest situations that a lone female can have; you know, confronted inside her home by armed gunmen," Gray said. "Of course, we understand that, so we have increased patrols."

"It's a little unsettling, you know, to see that this is happening, especially as close as it is to where I live," said neighbor Conor Kelly.

"I'm sad for her," added neighbor Joanne Gorka. "I'm really sad for her, and you know, I guess it can happen anywhere."

Police on Wednesday were asking residents if they saw anyone casing the neighborhood. They asked the victims who might have known about the cash kept in the home.

In Connecticut, a conviction on home invasion charges carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.

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