Home invasion robbers strike 2 Garden Grove homes

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- Two shocking home invasions have occurred in Garden Grove in the past few days, and now police are issuing a warning: be careful when strangers arrive at your door.

The first robbery was reported in the 13500 block of Merello Street Monday afternoon. Surveillance video captured the brazen incident. In the video, a man appears to be delivering flowers.

After asking for a signature for the flowers, he barges in, followed by two more suspects who hold the victims at gunpoint.

The victims were held inside a bathroom as the suspects ransacked the house, Garden Grove police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said.

One of the victims' family members, who did not want to be on camera, says there were three people home at the time, two girls, ages 23 and 17 and a 14-year-old boy.

After about 10 minutes inside, the three suspects exited, but one shortly returned to retrieve some kind of black box they had left inside.

A similar incident occurred Wednesday, about two miles away in the 8500 block of Hewitt Place.

Nightengale says the same suspects carried out the home invasion, but this time, instead of flowers, they were holding balloons.

According to police, two adults and three children were tied up in a bathroom using zip ties while the suspects demanded valuables.

"We want the public to be aware that if, you know, someone comes to their door and they're not familiar with those people that they should contact the police," Nightengale said. "If they have a delivery being made, delivery people carry identification or they wear some sort of uniform they should ask to see those things before they open their door or open their security door."

Police also believe no one was hurt because all the victims followed the suspects' orders.

"If this does happen, we want victims to know, cooperate, let them take what they're going to take and let them leave your house," Nightengale said. "Don't try to stop them or engage them in a fight, that's just going to make matters worse."

Police are looking for three to four suspects. Anyone with information was urged to contact Garden Grove police at (714) 741-5800.