Police: Elderly woman bound, robbed in Athens - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Police in Athens have offered a reward this evening for a crime against an elderly woman. Investigators say two home invaders overwhelmed the 89-year-old woman and bound her while they robbed her home on Monday morning.

The two men came to the woman's door saying they had a weapon and then forced their way inside her house subduing then robbing her.

"At that time, she was forced back inside and a second Hispanic male actually came into the house with the first one, pushed her back to a back bedroom where they duct taped her hands and her feet, ‘said Capt. Clarence Holeman of the Athens-Clarke Police Department.

Authorities say the robbers made off with jewelry from the home before driving away. They are looking for a light colored van or SUV that may have been captured on a nearby credit union's surveillance camera.

Police describe the suspects as Hispanic men, one in his 20s wearing a baseball cap, dark sunglasses and a gray hooded jacket. They say the other is slightly older, heavy set with a ruddy complexion.

Police believe the crooks targeted the victim because she is elderly and lives alone. They believe the men cased the house days before the home invasion.

"One of the guys actually said to her, ‘Do you remember me from last week? I came over here wanting to take some pictures.' So we know that last week there was somebody that came to her house wanting to take pictures of her backyard, saying that they wanted to put up cell towers," said Holeman.

Authorities are asking anyone with information in the case to contact the Athens-Clark Police Department at (706) 613-3342. A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to arrests of suspects.