Armed Burglars Break Into Queens Home, Hold Family Hostage: NYPD

RICHMOND HILL, QUEENS — An hours-long standoff overnight Tuesday ended peacefully after two armed burglars who broke into a Queens home and held its residents hostage surrendered to police, NYPD officials said.

The intruders broke into a home on 125th Street near Liberty Avenue about 9 p.m. Tuesday and held several women, one of whom had a baby, at gunpoint, according to news reports.

The break-in was targeted, not random: The burglars were searching the home for money they believed had been stashed by a man who lived there until he died of cancer last month, PIX11 reported.

The woman with the baby called 911 to report the burglary, saying there were two armed men in her home and that she had been assaulted, authorities said.

NYPD hostage negotiators managed to get the burglars to safely release the women, but the men remained inside, even asking police for a pizza delivery, according to PIX11.

The men surrendered just after 2 a.m. Wednesday and were taken into custody, according to news reports.

"Hostages are safe and the suspects have been arrested in the Queens incident," NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan wrote in a tweet. "The de-escalation skills of NYPD Emergency Service Unit cops, our negotiators, and all on scene were invaluable — saving lives and bringing a peaceful conclusion to an extremely dangerous situation."