Police: Armed men abduct teen, steal $30K from home

BUSTLETON (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are trying to track down the suspects who they say kidnapped a teenager and raided his Bustleton home, getting away with $30,000.

"They came in. They had guns. They put us down. They asked us for money," said Christian Garnica, homeowner.

Garnica described his family's harrowing ordeal at the hands of the gun-wielding bandits who invaded their home.

It all happened just before 2:00 p.m. Wednesday in the 10100 block of Ferndale Street.

Only moments earlier the family had received a call from their 15-year-old son, who told them he had been kidnapped a block away from home.

"They had my son kidnapped. And then my son called us from the guy's phone and said, 'Give them everything dad, give the money, the jewelry.' I guess they threatened my son and asked them what we have inside. My son was scared, and I guess he told them everything we have, and they took everything," said Garnica.

A young child witnessed the kidnapping by two men police say were wearing purple latex gloves. They taped his eyes shut and pushed him into a silver SUV. The vehicle was being driven by a man wearing a ski mask.

"He picked him up. He pushed him in the car. The boy was a teenager. He tried to get out, but they would not let him out," she said.

Garnica and his wife were tied up before the suspects inside ransacked the house.

The thieves made off with thousands of dollars in cash as well as jewelry and other valuables.

They sped off with Garnica's son still in the getaway car.

Garnica, who was able to untie himself, tried to chase after the suspects.

"I grabbed my keys, and I left. And I followed them. I chased the guys, and I almost caught up to them but they got away from me," he said.

The suspects later dropped off Garnica's son unharmed in the 2300 block of Myrtle Street, where he ran to a gas station and called police.

Before the thieves left the home, they took the DVR from the video surveillance system outside.

Police believe the suspects were professionals who knew what they were doing.

"Just the simple fact that they were standing out in 95 degree weather with latex gloves on - they were prepared. They knew what they were here to do," said Philadelphia Police Lieutenant John Stanford.

Police believe the family may have been targeted because they own a number of businesses and rental properties.

The suspects are described as three black males who fled in a silver Subaru SUV, possibly an Outback.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Northeast Detectives at 215-686-3153 or 215-686-3154.