Perps pose as police for home invasion

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Beach police are investigating a home invasion in which the suspects pretended to be police officers to gain entry.

"It's sad that it happened so close to home, right across the street," a neighbor told WAVY.com.

"That's scary," Amanda Leach added. "Now, I really want to move."

The night of April 8, Johnson had a visitor to his Campus East home. It was his neighbor.

"He just came to the door real freaky and panicked," the neighbor recalled. "He said he just got robbed, and they tied them up."

The victim told the neighbor it all started with a knock on his door.

"He said two guys came to the door...He looked at his peep hole, and somebody was holding a badge up to the door, so he thought it was police," the neighbor explained. "He opened the door, and as soon as he opened the door, he was rushed by three individuals."

Once inside the Liberal Arts Court home, the armed suspects tied up the victim and his wife and stole items worth over $1,000.

"That's real scary," Leach said. "Oh my gosh."

Police said while the victim and his wife were tied up, the couple's children were sleeping up stairs. WAVY.com was told the suspects took everything of value, including the wedding rings on their fingers.

"Frightening," the neighbor said. "As law abiding citizens, we would like to think that police are here to help, but when you have other people posing as cops it's kind of scary. You're a little reluctant to open your front door, even if a cop is at your front door."

The victim said the suspects weren't wearing masks and were dressed as if they could be plain clothed officers. They are still on the loose.

If someone who says they're an officer knocks on your door and you feel uncomfortable, don't open the door. Police advise you to call 911, and the dispatcher will verify whether that person is really an officer.