A Connecticut family escaped early Monday after being tied up during a five-hour home invasion robbery in New Haven County.
Five men stormed into the North Branford home around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, according to police. Inside the Autumn Court home was a woman in her 60s, her daughter, and her 4-year-old grandson. The suspects held the grandmother at gunpoint in the living room, and pulled the younger woman from the shower at gunpoint, according to Detective Sgt. Ken McNamara.
The men forced the two women and the child into the garage, and waited for the grandfather to come home. When he arrived, the suspects then forced the family into the wine cellar for a time, before tying up the family.
The entire frightening ordeal lasted nearly five hours, with the suspects ransacking the house, looking for jewelry and other valuables. They tried to steal a large, 6-foot safe, but couldn't remove it from the house, police said. The men even threatened to take the 4-year-old boy and hold him for ransom.
Hours after the home invasion began, the suspects left the home around 3 a.m. Monday, stealing a shotgun and the homeowner's pickup truck.
Family members were able to free themselves and call for help. No one was injured.
The pickup, still running, was found a short distance from the home.
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Connecticut state police are assisting North Branford police in the investigation.
