Suffolk County police are investigating a pair of home invasions 19 miles and about three hours apart, including one in which a victim was assaulted by a group of gunmen last week.
In the first case, up to four men armed with handguns broke into a house on Newkirt Avenue in West Babylon and forced three women, one man and five children between the ages of 2 and 9 into a bedroom shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, police said.
The assailants assaulted a male caretaker, who suffered injuries to head, face and body, police said. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The suspects fled with cash in an unknown direction. Investigators believe the house was targeted.
Then at 11 p.m. Thursday, three men entered a house on Nottingham Avenue in Patchogue, where they stole money, a cell phone and jewelry, police said. Three people who were inside at the time were not injured.
No arrests have been made in either case. No description of the suspects was available. Detectives are continuing the investigations.
Anyone with information about either case can call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
