A man pretending to be a UPS delivery personnel forced his way through a Bronx apartment, and with the help of an accomplice, ransacked the residence while threatening its occupants with a gun.

Dressed in a brown winter hat that had "UPS" printed on the front, the suspect arrived at the doorstep of a Billingsley Terrace apartment in Morris Heights at around 5 p.m. Monday. He had a box in his hand as he knocked on the door, reported New York Post. Inside the unit at that time was a home health attendant, 60, her retired husband, 63, and their two grandchildren aged 8 and 5.

The couple's 30-year-old son and the children's uncle, Daury, said the suspect knocked on another door in the building before turning to the victims' apartment.

"They said some name that my mom didn't know, so she cracked the door, and when they saw my mom's age, they just pushed in immediately," Daury was cited as saying by the outlet. "He rushed her with the box first and then the gun came out right after."

According to police, the man terrorized the family and told them he had a gun with him inside the box. His accomplice soon joined him in the apartment, and they ordered the couple and their grandchildren to bind themselves up with zip ties, the report said.

"Don't say anything, don't do anything so we can get done quick," one of the robbers reportedly said.

On Tuesday, the grandfather, Louis Vallerio, recalled the harrowing moments of the robbery, saying: "The children, they were screaming. They were screaming the whole time."

He also shared how traumatic the incident was for the kids. "They didn't sleep at all last night. My 8-year-old grandson is at school right now. My 5-year-old granddaughter is with her father's family. They're very scared."

Vallerio also said the two suspects were a "team." While one watched the family members, the other went around raiding the apartment.

The suspects ended up taking two iPhones, an iPad and some personal documents, police said. They also managed to swindle $7,500 in cash after getting their hands on a safe and a child's piggy bank.

Daury said the money in the piggy bank was meant for his 10-year-old daughter. "It's where I save the money for her," he said, adding that the robbers also stole the money his mom had been setting aside.

"They took my parents' money. My mom was saving money to move out. She had a few thousand saved. She doesn't know what to do."

Daury also said the terrifying incident has since left his niece and nephew distraught. "They are more scared and still shook up than even my parents. They [are] still physically shaking. My niece left because she's scared to be here now."

None of the victims were injured in the robbery, police was cited as saying by NBC News.

Following the incident, authorities urged the public to come forward with any tips that could help them nab the robbers. A reward of $3,500 is being offered for any piece of information that could lead to their arrests.

cardboard box
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