A family of five including a 4-year-old boy were tied up when armed robbers stormed a Jersey Shore motel Monday night.
Police received a call around 9:30 p.m. that three men entered the Royal Lodge, owned by the Patel family, at 553 Absecon Blvd. in Absecon, N.J. The suspects entered the office and asked about room rates before brandishing a handgun and forcing their way behind the counter, according to police.
"They just started going inside the room, then I said, 'Stop, stop!'" said Baldev Patel.
The suspects bound the five victims with electrical cords before stealing about $3,000 in cash and $2,600 in jewelry and electronics, according to officials.
"He tried to kick me on my face with his feet," said Gigna Patel.
The Patel family managed to free themselves. They say the robbers were gone about 20 minutes after they showed up. Police say they fled in what may have been a dark-colored SUV.
While the family was not seriously hurt during the ordeal, they're now dealing with the psychological damage, especially the young boy.
"He's only four-years-old," said Gigna. "He's really scared. It is scary. When we closed our eyes last night we couldn't sleep, five people."
While the motel is equipped with surveillance cameras, the family says the robbers somehow disabled it and they haven't been able to turn them on.
Police say all three men wore black jackets, black boots, gray jeans and gray knitted hats with facemasks, stood 5-foot-10, weighed between 200 to 250 pounds and were between the ages of 25 and 35.
If you have any information on this incident, please call Absecon Police at 609-641-0667.
Photo Credit: NBC10.com