A fourth family in one New Jersey county was tied up and robbed by intruders just days after authorities said three other homes were hit, possibly by the same group of masked gunmen.
Prosecutors said two masked intruders barged into an Edison home, tied up the family and ransacked the house. It wasn't clear if anything was stolen. The home's owner said his wife was taking out the garbage when the invaders attacked. He and his wife were tied up along with their three children.
The robbery marks the fourth time in less than two weeks that intruders have targeted families in Middlesex County in less than two weeks. The first two homes were robbed in Old Bridge last week; the third home, in South Plainfield, was hit on Tuesday.
All four families robbed were Indian-American, and authorities say they could have been targeted because of their ethnicity.
Regardless of why the thieves are targeting certain homes, Middlesex County homeowners are concerned.
"I have two daughters and they say, 'Mom, I'm afraid. What's going on here?'" said Maria Tantillo, whose family leaves near the scene of the third home invasion. "They don't want to stay home by themselves."
South Plainfield's mayor says additional police patrols will be dispatched in his town.
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--Tracie Strahan contributed to this story.
