Tourists zip-tied in home invasion robbery at East Hollywood vacation rental

Tourists tide up during home invasion robbery

Six tourists were tied up during a home invasion robbery at a rental property in East Hollywood.

LOS ANGELES - Six tourists from Minnesota are thankful to be alive after terrifying moments unfolded at a vacation rental property in East Hollywood.

Around 4 a.m. Tuesday, they became victims of a home-invasion at a rental home located near the intersection of Heliotrope Drive and Rosewood Avenue. Officials said at least five suspects in ski masks surprised the group who had reportedly just arrived from the Midwest. The suspects were said to be all armed with guns and rifles.

Sleeping on the floor below, a couple woke up to the sound of screaming and knew something was terribly wrong, so they jumped out of a window to safety.

Tourists hit by home invasion robbers

Six tourists from Minnesota were hit in a home invasion robbery in East Hollywood.

Some of the tourists were also zip-tied and held at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, the suspects took off with cell phones, suitcases, cash and everything they could carry.

The victims were able to free themselves from the zip-ties, ran out of the house, and called 911.

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Investigators believe this was possibly an inside job and that the robbers might have known the key combination; there were no signs of forced entry. In addition, it appears the suspects knew where the security cameras were because they were all covered with tape.

Since the suspects were wearing ski masks, police could not release a description of the suspects.

"We were here and we heard people jumping in and we saw someone. Looked like a young boy. It has been an issue where people have been breaking in, but we thought we took care of it. We have cameras, they have cameras everywhere," said house cleaner Carmen Islas.

East Hollywood Crime and Public Safety