Investigators believe the same crew is behind a pair of armed home invasions in recent days targeting women pulling into their driveways before forcing their way into their homes in Chicago's southwest suburbs.

Police confirmed the same group of robbers is linked to a home invasion on Wednesday in Homer Glen, and one in nearby Lemont on Thursday.

In the first attack, a 73-year-old woman was tied up at gunpoint as robbers ransacked her home.

The Will County Sheriff's office said, shortly after 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, they were called to a home in the 16800 block of South Deer Path in unincorporated Homer Glen.

A 73-year-old woman said she had just gotten home from the grocery store and pulled her car into her garage when she was confronted by a man in a hoodie armed with a handgun. He demanded cash from her at gunpoint, while a second man got out of a dark-colored Acura that had followed her home, police said.

Together, the two men forced the woman into her home at gunpoint, forced her to sit in a chair and bound her wrists and ankles using items from the home, police said. They then took her credit card and forced her to tell them her PIN number while threatening her life, according to police.

Police said shortly after they left the home, the suspects withdrew $2,000 from the victim's bank account at an ATM in Orland Park.

After the robbers left the woman's home, she saw an opportunity to escape, and was able to free herself and run to a neighbor for help.

"She told me they had her tied up. She was able to break free," the neighbor told CBS News Chicago.

The neighbor said that woman was petrified when she frantically banged on his front door.

"She was able to get away, and she said hid, making sure they didn't see her, and then she came to the front door," the neighbor said. "She wasn't sure if they were still there or not."

Neighbors of the 73-year-old woman have been extra vigilant since the attack, considering it happened in broad daylight.

"This is a neighborhood. We watch out for each other, and quite frankly it's a very heavily armed neighborhood. It's unfortunate no one was there at the time to help her out," another neighbor said. "It's lucky that nothing worse happened, and it's fortunate that she's okay."

The same crew struck another home Thursday afternoon in nearby Lemont, police in Lemont responded to a home invasion on the 1200 block of Covington Drive. Lemont police said at least two armed men forced their way into a 65-year-old woman's home while she was unloading her vehicle in her driveway to the garage. 

The woman was forced into her home at gunpoint, tied up, and robbed of her ATM card, PIN number and other items, Lemont police said. A short time later, a cash withdrawal was made at a nearby bank. 

Sheriff's officials said a black Acura used in that home invasion matched the description of the one used by the robbers in Homer Glen.

A short time later, Joliet police found the Acura and tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver fled, setting off a brief chase before the car crashed near Route 52 and Rowell Avenue in unincorporated Will County.

Three suspects ran off after the crash, but were taken into custody a short time later. The suspects tossed away two guns during the chase, but a Joliet police K-9 unit was able to recover the weapons.

Sheriff's officials said all three suspects have extensive criminal backgrounds. One of the suspects is a juvenile. Charges were pending Thursday night.

Police said the attacks serve as a reminder to be alert when driving and pulling into your home. If you think someone is following you, head to a police station or public space.