OAKLAND — A couple watching their grandchildren were targeted Monday afternoon by robbers who broke into their Leona Heights district home, authorities said.
The residents, an 80-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife, were not injured.
Neither were the children, who authorities said are a 2-year-old and an infant.
Authorities said two men, both armed with guns, broke into the house on Leona Street about 1:30 p.m. Monday and confronted the couple. The neighborhood is above the Highway 13 and Interstate 580 connection and below Merritt College.
The suspects spent at least an hour in the home searching for valuables before finally leaving with a gun and some ammunition, authorities said.
Detailed descriptions of the robbers were not available.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money in Monday’s robbery for information leading to the arrests of the suspects. Anyone with information may call investigators at 510-238-3326 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.
The robbery is the latest in what authorities have said is a recent uptick in home invasion robberies throughout the city since late June.
The age range of victims has varied, but some have been in their 70s and 80s, authorities said. The terrifying robberies have happened at all hours and involved at least two suspects usually armed with guns breaking into homes and taking cash, jewelry and other items.
Investigators are trying to determine if the suspects in Monday’s robbery have been involved in some of the other robberies.