NYPD: Fake Flower Delivery Woman, 2 Masked Men Rob Bronx Woman
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Wednesday were hunting for a treacherous trio who beat up and robbed a woman in her own apartment.
As CBS 2's John Slattery reported, police said the suspects tricked the victim into letting them inside by bearing a gift that was hard to refuse.
The three suspects included a woman who was carrying a bouquet of flowers, while the other two were both men. The face of one could not be seen.
The attack happened at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, March 17, in a building on East 169th Street in the Bronx.
The suspects went to the apartment of Ivelisse Cruz, 57. The woman with the bouquet knocked on the door and said she had a flower delivery.
Police said the victim's nickname was used, and as she opened the door, two masked men pushed their way in and hurled her to the floor. The victim fought with one of the men and the female intruder, who displayed a silver gun and told her to cooperate as the suspects tried to tie up the victim with duct tape.
Meanwhile, the other male suspect ransacked closets and took a large amount of cash.
"It's terrible, terrible," said neighbor Bebe Lockram. "That is so terrible."
Many neighbors in the building were disturbed over such violence.
"Well, it's kind of frightening when you live next door to someone and that happened to someone here, so, you know," another neighbor said.
The building happens to be a stone's throw from the 44th Precinct stationhouse at 2 E. 169th St. in the Bronx.
The female suspect was described as Hispanic, with a light complexion and black hair, wearing a black jacket, a red hat, and pink gloves.
The male suspects were both described as Hispanic with a light complexion. One was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, black pants, black gloves, and a black mask; while the other was described as wearing a camouflage jacket, a black hooded sweat shirt, black pants, and a black mask.
Police have released surveillance photos of all three suspects.
The victim was left with minor injuries. She told police $10,000 was stolen.
Authorities said the lesson to be learned from all this is to be careful about opening the door for someone you do not know – even if it is someone bearing gifts.
Anyone with information about the robbery was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
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