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Intruders Leave Elderly Couple Traumatized But Unharmed

WFLA photo by DAVE KRAUT

Two armed gunmen entered 5351 Ixora St. and took money and jewelry.

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By LISA A. DAVIS and and CLAUDIA DoCAMPO

The Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8

Published: May 30, 2008

Updated: 05/30/2008 06:03 pm

ZEPHYRHILLS - It was a half-hour a deaf couple likely won't ever forget.

At 10:30 p.m. Thursday, visitors rang a specialized doorbell that summoned Ralph Prezioso, 86, to his front door at 5351 Ixora St.

When he opened the door, two guns were pointed at him, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

The two men behind the guns led Prezioso into his living room, where his wife, Virginia, 77, slept in a recliner. The intruders pointed the guns at their heads, put masking tape over the mouths, bound their hands and told them to keep quiet. Then the suspects ransacked the home.

About 11 p.m., the intruders left Sandlewood Mobile Home Park with an undetermined amount of cash and jewelry. It wasn't clear how they fled.

"Fortunately, nobody was injured, seriously injured in this, so it's the obvious emotional trauma that the two individuals went through and they're dealing with that today," sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin said.

Neighbor Diane Chase said Virginia Prezioso, using her daughter as an interpreter, displayed the bruises on her wrists from having them bound. And Ralph Prezioso made a motion to indicate how he had a gun to his head, Chase said.

Still, "they were in amazingly good spirits," she said of the couple. "I was shocked, I wouldn't have been."

Neighbors say Thursday's incident was an unexpected violent crime in an otherwise quiet community, and they're thinking twice about answering a knock at their doors.

"It's terrifying; it's scary, especially with guns and all that," said Harry Farner, who lives next door to the Preziosos.

The couple is staying with relatives while authorities search for the suspects. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective Jennifer Christensen at 1-800-854-2862, Ext. 5019.

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