Police in the San Fernando Valley are investigating whether two break-ins reported Tuesday night are connected, including a violent home invasion in Woodland Hills that left a husband and wife terrorized.
The Woodland Hills incident was reported around 11:30 p.m. in the 22700 block of Erwin Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Investigators said the couple was home alone when three suspects armed with guns entered the backyard. One suspect climbed through a window and then opened a door to allow the others inside.
Once inside the home, one suspect went into an office where the husband was working and forced him to open a safe, police told KTLA. Another suspect entered a bedroom where the wife was sleeping, forced her out of bed, and placed a shirt in her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
The suspects fled within minutes, making off with approximately $15,000 in cash and $500,000 worth of jewelry.
The suspects were described as three males wearing dark clothing, masks and gloves. They fled the area in a dark-colored vehicle and were last seen heading in an unknown direction.
Detectives said the home is equipped with surveillance cameras that may help identify the suspects. Authorities believe the home invasion was targeted.
About 12 miles away, a second break-in was reported in Sherman Oaks in the 3400 block of Valley Meadow Road.
In that incident, two suspects entered a home through a bedroom door but fled when an alarm sounded. It was not immediately clear whether anything was stolen.
Police said no one was physically injured in either incident.