Robbers Hold Family at Gunpoint, Take $4,000

In the second home-invasion robbery in Glendale since May 12, an arcade owner, his wife and their 15-year-old son were held at gunpoint early Monday by three masked bandits who burst through the bedroom doors of their hillside home and made off with $4,000 in cash, police said.

The 47-year-old father, who did not want his family identified by name, was watching a videotape on the third floor when a gunman with a black bandanna over his face broke into the room about 1:30 a.m. and demanded money, Sgt. Rick Young said. The robbers had entered through a sliding door to the kitchen downstairs.

Startled, the father did not respond immediately, so the invader rushed him and struck him on the side of the head before forcing him to the floor, putting the gun to his head and again demanding money, Young said. The victim, a Compton arcade owner, suffered a swollen left eye and a cut.

“He says, ‘The money’s downstairs. Just don’t hurt my family,’ ” Young said.

While heading downstairs with the robber, the father saw two other masked men escorting his son and his wife out of their bedrooms. Both had been awakened by the burglars. One took the teenage boy’s wristwatch.

In the office downstairs, the family watched as the robbers gathered up the money and left through the sliding glass door. Instants later, they sped away from the house in Markridge Estates, an enclave of luxury homes worth $500,000 or more in La Crescenta.

In a home-invasion robbery May 13, three men entered a house in north Glendale and sexually assaulted a 23-year-old housekeeper after binding her with duct tape, Young said. They stole two handguns and jewelry, according to police.