A 70-year-old man managed to scramble out the side door of his Marion Street home as two black-clad, gun-wielding thieves led him into his basement early Tuesday, police said.
A man and woman knocked on the door of 216 Marion St. and barged their way in about 1:15 a.m. and ran through the home in search of money. The pair tied the man's hands with a handkerchief, told him they wanted money and threatened to kill him if they did not get it, said acting Scranton police Capt. Glen Thomas.
Forty-five minutes after the invaders made their way in, punched the man in the face and tied his hands, they led him to his home's basement staircase. Their search had yielded only a small amount of cash, Capt. Thomas said.
Acting Detective Lt. Bob Martin said the thieves needed a light bulb to continue their search for money in the home and wanted the resident to point one out in the basement.
When the two came into the house, the victim noticed what he believed was a semi-automatic handgun on one of them, Capt. Thomas said.
As they led him into the basement, the man bounded out a side door of the home and ran toward his neighbor's home.
The male robber caught up to him and a fight ensued, but not before a neighbor called city police and soon the two suspects fled, Capt. Thomas said.
Lt. Martin said it appeared the two invaders may have known their victim as they were specifically looking for something which ultimately they did not find. The invasion netted the pair only a few dollars, he said.
The victim did not suffer any injuries warranting hospitalization, Capt. Thomas said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact city police at 348-4139.
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