Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : 4 Suspects Arrested in Lancaster Robberies : Crime: Home-invasion incidents were conducted by gunmen in ski masks who sometimes tied up residents. Authorities say others may be involved.

Three men and a juvenile male have been arrested in connection with a recent string of violent home-invasion robberies in Lancaster, sheriff’s deputies said Monday.

The four, all from Bakersfield, are in custody as suspects in nighttime robberies committed by assailants wearing ski masks who forced their way into residences to take money, jewelry and other valuables.

The robbers carried handguns and in some cases assaulted and tied up residents.

A major break in the case occurred Friday afternoon when Bakersfield police spotted a 1986 Pontiac Trans Am that had been reported stolen during one of the robberies last week on Crestwood Court in Lancaster, said Lt. Tom Pigott, investigations supervisor at the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Bakersfield police arrested the driver, Delwin Maynor, 19, and notified deputies in Lancaster, who took him into custody.

Pigott declined to say how deputies obtained the names of the other three suspects, but deputies began looking for them over the weekend.

Gang unit deputies spotted the three Saturday night driving near 6th Street East and Avenue H-14 in Lancaster, Pigott said. The driver, Paul Evans, 27, was arrested as the vehicle stopped.

His two passengers--Ronnie Watkins, 20, and a 17-year-old boy--were arrested after a short pursuit on foot, Pigott said.

“We have reason to believe one or all of these suspects are involved in all three of the recent home-invasion robberies,” he said. He added that the investigation was continuing and additional arrests may take place.

Maynor, Evans and Watkins were being held Monday in the jail at Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Station in lieu of $100,000 bail each. The juvenile, whose name was not released, was taken to Challenger Youth Facility.

Despite the arrests, Pigott recommended that residents continue to exercise caution when someone knocks at the door, particularly at night.

Home-invasion robberies--as opposed to burglaries that occur when no one is at home--have been rare in the Antelope Valley, but Pigott said the recent incidents indicate that might be changing.

“We should always be alert to this type of crime because it is gaining in popularity,” he said.