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Police: Jericho Couple Roughed Up After Disrupting Home Invasion

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Detectives in Nassau County are investigating a robbery that left a Jericho couple roughed up Monday night.

WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs On The Story

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Police said a 55-year-old man and 38-year-old woman were returning to their home on Birchwood Park Drive at about 6:35 p.m. They were surprised -- overwhelmed -- by three young men with guns, yelling for money -- or else. The bandits were hiding in the bushes of Stuart Leiman's house next door.

"Yeah, my wife is beside herself because that house over there was robbed about a month ago. These are the times that … people are desperate," Leiman told CBS 2's Pablo Guzman.

Police said the trio charged at the man and woman, forcing them into the garage. As they started to enter the house, the home's alarm system went off. The victims refused to shut off the alarm, police said.

"While they were demanding money, they demanded the alarm be turned off. At some point, at least one of the subjects began to kick and punch the victims and strike the male victim with one of the handguns," Nassau County Police Lt. William Carey said.

Despite the beating, the couple continued to let the alarm blare. The suspects, realizing the alarm would notify the police, took off on foot, police said. They didn't manage to steal anything.

Both victims were banged up and bruised. They were taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Police are still looking for the burglars. The whole neighborhood was on edge Tuesday.

"The police came here … I thought we were being targeted. You know, this neighborhood of Jericho. But they said there's just a rash of robberies, of burglaries, I mean," Sharon Stangel said.

"Everyone's been really careful, leaving their lights on, locking their doors, extra carefully and keeping their windows shut," Sam Kurash added.

Police said the suspects are three black men, over 6 feet tall, in their late 20s. They were all armed with pistols. One wore what police describe as a "red or burgundy" hoodie.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls are kept anonymous.

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