A family in Whitestone, Queens experienced a harrowing ordeal when two armed men, one masquerading as an Amazon delivery driver, invaded their home and confined them to the basement. This incident occurred shortly after their teenage daughter left for school, and they were discovered only after a member of the family managed to break free and seek help. According to ABC7NY, the suspects, believed to be in their 40s or 50s, bound the family with zip ties and duct tape, robbing the house of cash and jewelry before using the family's vehicle to escape.
The abandoned vehicle was later found at 154th Street and 14th Avenue. A 911 call was placed after a family member, trying to hastily escape his bonds, ran into the street, attracting the attention of passersby. Describing the scenario, one witness recounted to ABC7NY, "He was definitely disheveled, I've never seen something like that, like a guy come out of his house with duct tape all over his face literally, a movie."
Further details revealed that not only adult family members but also three children were forced into the basement and restrained during the robbery. The New York Post reported that all victims had their mouths sealed with duct tape as the assailants ransacked the house. The family's silver Chrysler minivan, later found abandoned nearby, served as the robbers' getaway car after they had carried out the crime.
When a neighbor, John Nardone, stepped into the chaotic aftermath, he saw the father struggling to free himself from the duct tape and relayed to the New York Post, "I said, 'are you ok?' He said his kids were in the basement." Nardone, who was about to start his second day at a new job, called 911 immediately and shared what limited information he had with the authorities. He expressed his own shock over the situation, mentioning, "I was wondering if this was real, because that, I’ve never seen something like that, like a guy come out of his house with duct tape all over his face."
The investigation continues as police actively search for the suspects, reviewing video evidence and following leads to bring those responsible to justice. Meanwhile, the family has since been evaluated at a local hospital, and while no serious injuries were reported, the psychological trauma from such an invasion of safety and security will require a more complex healing process.
