MILLCREEK — Police were looking Friday for up to four people who broke into an apartment and left a couple tied up for more than two hours while ransacking their home.

"They put the victims in the bathroom and ultimately then ransacked the apartment looking for something, we don't know exactly what. We do believe this isn't just random. They obviously targeted this individuals for something, but right now we're still trying to determine what the motive is," Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said.

The incident began about 5 a.m. at an upper unit at the Silverwood Apartments, 3965 S. 805 East. Two men and a woman forced open a locked front door, Hoyal said.

"They immediately went to the victims and tied them up with zip-ties and put them in the bathroom. The suspects then went and rummaged through the apartment. The apartment has been completely ransacked," he said.

The suspects were all wearing ski masks that covered their faces. One was armed with a shotgun and another with a handgun, Hoyal said.

An man and woman, who are boyfriend and girlfriend, were tied up and left in the bathroom for approximately 2 ½ hours. The couple told investigators they did not recognize the intruders. Hoyal did not know Friday whether the couple was asleep or awake when they broke in or whether they said anything to the residents.

After ransacking the apartment, the trio took a set of car keys and drove off with the victims' Kia Optima. It was not immediately known Friday how they knew which car was theirs, Hoyal said.

A fourth person seen in a pickup truck in the parking lot may have also been connected to the home invasion, he said.

About 7:30 a.m., a neighbor heard the couple yelling for help and called 911. Investigators were going through the apartment looking for evidence to determining if anything else besides the car was taken.

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Police were looking Friday for a white Kia Optima with Utah license plate X421AJ. Hoyal said the car is missing a front bumper and has two dents on the passenger side.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 801-743-7000.

Email: preavy@deseretnews.com

Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam

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