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New Details Emerge In Violent Ardsley Home Invasion

ARDSLEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police are still hunting for suspects wanted for a violent home invasion in Westchester County.

Around 6 p.m. Monday night, police said four men wearing hooded sweatshirts stormed the back door of a house on Bramblebrook Road in Ardsley and forced a father and his three children upstairs at gunpoint.

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Two younger children, an 8-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl, were put in a bedroom and told to hide under the covers," Ardsley Police Chief Emil Califano said. "They knew there was cash in the house. They kind of knew where the safe was, so that's where the investigation is leading us."

The suspects then forced the father and his 15-year-old son to a master bedroom where they were forced to open a safe before being pistol-whipped, investigators said.

The suspects then duct-taped the victims' hands behind their backs and put tape over their mouths, police said.

The teen was able to break free after several minutes and call 911, police said.

"The son still had his cellphone on him and reached in to dial 911," Det. Ronald Perkins said. "He still had some of the duct tape over his mouth so he was kind of garbled when he was on the phone."

Investigators said they believe the thieves may have gotten away with more than $10,000 cash. The father is a heating and plumbing contractor who runs his business out of the house. Police said they have begun interviewing employees and associates.

News of the violent attack in the quiet and affluent community has many residents in shock and on edge.

"To my knowledge nothing like this has ever happened in the village," neighbor Mort David told CBS 2's Lou Young.

The next-door neighbor told CBS 2's Young the children had been playing in the yard only an hour before. Suddenly, the neighborhood was flooded with police.

"It's a little unsettling knowing they were targeted. I don't know why or what for but hopefully that's the end of it," Jessica Park said.

"It makes me nervous," Dobbs Ferry resident Mary Horgan added.

"The fact that you can be targeted and your home invaded like that is obviously terrifying for anyone with a family here," Ardsley resident Bruce Ginsberg said.

Police still have only sketchy details of the suspects who are still on the loose.

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