Thanks to the watchful eye of a neighbor, two people escaped injury during a home invasion robbery last week, and two suspects were arrested.

Long Beach residents Christian Ortiz-Lopez and Cesar Vasquez, both 19, are being charged with first degree burglary for allegedly forcing their way into the home of an unidentified 71-year-old woman who lives in the 4200 block of Belinda Avenue at about 12:30 p.m. on Apr. 21, police said.

The neighbor reported the incident to authorities as it occurred.

When police arrived, a 41-yearold male resident of the Belinda Avenue house was running from the home. He saw the officers and ran to them. One suspect also spotted the police and tried to flee but was captured, police said.

To help in the search for the other suspect, police brought in a Ventura County Sheriff's Department helicopter unit. A nearby elementary school and day-care center were temporarily locked down and the area closed off while police searched for the suspect.

An officer and his canine partner found him in the rear yard of a nearby residence and held him until other officers arrived.

Police said both assailants were armed and handguns were recovered.

The woman was found inside her home, tied up with duct tape, but she and the male resident were uninjured and no items were reported missing, police said.

Ortiz-Lopez is being held in Ventura County Jail on $400,000 bail and Vasquez on $220,000 bail. Both men are scheduled to appear in court on May 4.

-Michelle Knight