DNA leads to arrest for home invasions

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- New York City police have arrested two men who allegedly conducted a series of terrifying home invasion robberies.

Efrem Russell, 43, was charged with first-degree robbery and burglary. Ernest Colon, 44, was charged with first-degree attempted robbery and burglary, reported the New York Daily News Sunday.

One thief left behind something carrying his DNA, and the police DNA database matched it with one of the alleged thieves arrested, a police source told the News.

Police said three armed, masked men carried out a series of robberies in New York and Long Island - entering homes through open windows or doors and forcing residents into one room where they tied up victims and forced them to provide access to safes and other valuables.

The thieves then ransacked homes for cash, jewelry, electronics and DVDs.