Rancho P.V. : Robbers Tie, Gag 2 Women

Two men wearing ski masks, one of them brandishing a gun, climbed through a window of a secluded home early Tuesday, tied and gagged two women residents, ransacked the house and made a leisurely getaway with a haul of $5,000 to $6,000 in jewelry and other valuables, according to sheriff’s deputies.

The men were still at large Wednesday, a deputy said.

Detective Donald Mihovil termed the incident “rare” for Rancho Palos Verdes.

It took place about 3 a.m. Tuesday in a house in the 4500 block of Miraleste Drive that sits about a quarter-mile from the road, according to Deputy Joe Morphew.

Morphew and Mihovil gave the following account.

Veda Harold, 80, and her daughter, Vivian Ohst, 57, were awakened by the sound of the two men breaking in. Harold and Ohst were ordered out of bed and then bound with masking tape. While one rummaged through the house for an hour, the other sat and watched the two women.

The men took proof sets of U. S. coins, a gold necklace, currency and a camera. After they left, it took the women 20 minutes to free themselves and call police.

Police said the men were white, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 20 to 25 years old and about 170 pounds in weight. One had bushy hair; the other had shoulder-length brown hair.