Fresno Police investigating home invasion robbery in Central Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A traumatic afternoon for a Central Fresno family after three women returning home from the grocery store walked right into the middle of a burglary.

Inside the Evergreen Apartments the blinds were lowered. Neighbors withdrawn-- relieved they narrowly escaped a frightening encounter.

"It really hit home because it was right outside my doorstep," said Dominique Omos, resident.

Three men broke into an apartment early Thursday afternoon. They were ransacking the rooms when an 89-year-old woman surprised them inside. She was returning from grocery shopping-- her two daughters right behind her.

"We live in the back-- we take care of each other, and to hear that something like that happened to my neighbor, and I was asleep, it gets me upset," said one neighbor.

The men forced the women into a bedroom and put pillowcases over their heads before taking off. They stole cash, credit cards, and several electronics.

In this tight-knit community, neighbors are taking the intrusion personally.

A neighbor said, "It gets me mad that people could just come in and steal whatever they feel like, instead of going out there and working for their money the way they are supposed to. They pretty much are taking someone else's life away because they don't want to get a job."

Families said they are posting warnings, taking this robbery seriously. Especially since suspicious-looking people have been knocking on their doors-- sometimes posing as utility workers.

"It's in your backyard, so you think that nothing is going to happen to you or won't happen to you. And when you find out, you come outside and you see all these cops, and it happen so close, it makes you more scared," said Omos.

Living in an apartment complex with no surveillance camera, or lights at night. Families said all they have is one another.

"It could have happened to me, been me, you know what I'm saying? it could have happened to me," said Omos.

The suspects were men in their 20s and drove away in a blue four-door Jeep.

No arrests have been made.