3 women suspected of home-invasion robbery near Whittier

WHITTIER -- Three women bound, beat and tried to rob a man in his home in an unincorporated county area near Whittier early Friday, authorities said.
Natalie Gomez, 21, Jasmine Alvarado, 20, and Stephanie Gonzalez, 27, all of unincorporated Whittier, were arrested on suspicion of home-invasion robbery, assault, burglary and false imprisonment, Los Angeles County sheriff's Detective Gabriel Ramirez said.
According to county booking records, the suspects were being held in lieu of $120,000 bail and were due due for arraignment Tuesday in Whittier Superior Court.
The alleged crime took place about 2:45 a.m. in the 7800 block of Dutchess Drive, the detective said.
The investigation remained in it's early stages, he said, but it initially appeared that the victim may have been acquainted with one of the women and allowed her in.
The woman apparently let two other women in as the man slept, and he awoke to find himself being struck in the face with some kind of object and bound with duct tape by two women wearing ski masks and gloves, Ramirez said. They then demanded money.
A witness outside the home heard the commotion and called 9-1-1, officials said.
Deputies arrested the three women as they were leaving the home, Ramirez said. Ski masks were found discarded nearby.
The man, who is in his mid-40s, was taken to a hospital for treatment of cuts to his face, officials said. The injuries appeared minor.