Man, 70, handcuffed during home invasion

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Police are searching for threemenwho allegedly handcuffed a 70-year-old man in his South Edgemere Drive residence during a home invasion.

On March 15 at approximately 10:15 p.m., police responded to the home in the West Allenhurst section of Ocean Township and found a senior citizen handcuffed in his bedroom, according to police reports.

Officers uncuffed the man and learned that three men wearing ski masks had entered his home through an unlocked door, according to reports.

The suspects had approached the resident, who was sitting in his living room watching television, and one of the unknown men waved a handgun and demanded money, authorities said.

The residentwas handcuffed and brought to his bedroomwhile the three suspects ransacked the house and took an undisclosed amount of cash and two handguns that belonged to the victim, according to reports.

The three men then fled from the house and the victim was left handcuffed in his bedroom, according to reports, which state that the victimwas able to reach a telephone and dial 911.

According to Ocean Township Detective Sgt. Thomas Burke, the incident is the first of its kind to occur in the West Allenhurst section of the township this year.

"Ahome invasion in Ocean Township is a rare occurrence," Burke said.

TheOcean Township police and theMonmouth County Prosecutor's Office are investigating the incident.

"It's a cooperative investigation with the Prosecutor's Office," Burke said. "They have a few things they are checking into."

Police are asking that anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the neighborhood or has any knowledge of the incident to contact Ocean Township Police Detective Gregory Tongring at (732) 531-1800.