(Credit: CBS)
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LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) — Police in Lake Forest are looking for suspects in a frightening home invasion.
The burglars broke into a home and tied up a 70-year-old woman with duct tape, before stealing jewelry and electronics.
The woman, who was watching the house for the owners in the 100 block of Foster Place, freed herself after struggling about 45 minutes, police said.
The intruders took an undetermined number of items. Two of the three were armed with handguns, police said.
The woman, whose mouth also was taped, was not injured, police said.
“We don’t believe the rest of the community is at risk,” Lake Forest Deputy Chief Glenn Burmeister said Monday. “We believe the house was targeted.”
Because of statements the men made during the incident, police believe they were aware the homeowner was on vacation, Burmeister said.
“They had information about the owner,” he said.
The intruders pried open the locked back door of the home while the woman, a relative of the resident, was asleep in bed. They awakened the woman and one bound her with duct tape.
According to the police report, one of the men stayed with the woman while the others ransacked the house. When they left, the woman eventually freed herself and called 911 at 12:45 a.m.
The three men were described as African-American, wearing masks and black clothing. Two were about 5-foot-9, and the third was taller.
Although the doors of the house were locked, the security alarm had not been set, Burmeister said.
If the alarm had been set, “it probably would have made a difference,” Burmeister said. “The suspects probably would have fled” and police would have been alerted that the alarm was tripped and gone to the house, he said.
There are no reported suspects in the case, but police are investigating and checking for similar crimes in neighboring communities.
The residents of the house have since returned home and are compiling a list of stolen items.
Police urge residents to be on the lookout.
“Please report any suspicious people,” Burmeister said.
The Lake County News-Sun contributed to this report, via the Sun-Times Media Wire.
