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Bay Area briefs
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HOME INVASION ROBBERS DRAG RESIDENTS FROM BEDS: SAN FRANCISCO  (AP) — Police say home invasion robbers have stormed a San Francisco area home and dragged the residents from their beds at gunpoint before fleeing with valuables.

The San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/UmJ7KJ) says the five men stole a cellphone, a tablet, laptop computers, a video game console, cash, wallets, a camera and luggage before fleeing early Thursday.

Investigators say the robbers broke down the door on the Outer Richmond District home and dragged the residents from their beds and held them at gunpoint in the living room while they ransacked the home.

2 DIE AFTER NOROVIRUS BREAKS OUT IN MARIN COUNTY: MILL VALLEY  (AP) — Marin County officials say two elderly residents have died following an outbreak of a gastrointestinal virus that sickened nearly 60 people at a senior care center.

The Marin Independent Journal reports the norovirus outbreak began just before Christmas and has afflicted residents and employees at The Redwoods facility in Mill Valley.

Public Health Officer Matthew Willis said Friday that the virus may have contributed to the death of the two residents who were at least 86 years old and had "significant pre-existing conditions."

Officials say another six people were taken to the hospital after falling ill from the contagious virus, which causes flu-like symptoms for 24 to 48 hours.

Marin officials say the Redwoods outbreak follows an outbreak at San Rafael retirement home that sickened 27 people in November.

MURDER CHARGE FILED IN APARTMENT GARAGE SLAYING: SAN JOSE  (AP) — A San Jose apartment complex worker has been charged with murder for the New Year's Eve shooting death of a man suspected in a string of car burglaries.

KTVU-TV says 26-year-old Luis Hernandez had illegally bought the gun used to shoot and kill 36-year-old Christopher Soriano on Dec. 31.

Investigators say Hernandez and another Summer Breeze apartment maintenance worker confronted Soriano in a garage, believing he was responsible for recent burglaries. There have been 11 car burglaries at the complex in the past year.

Soriano was shot as he tried to get away.

Police say Soriano has a lengthy criminal record and they don't know why he was at the apartment complex.

FAMILY REUNITED WITH STOLEN 1938 HEIRLOOM TELEGRAM: DALY CITY  (AP) — A California detective has reunited a family with a stolen 1938 heirloom telegram.

The Western Union telegram is described as the opening page of the love story of now-deceased Minnie and Fred Ciolino, who sent the message 74 years ago after their Reno wedding on Christmas Eve.

The telegram sent to San Francisco area relatives read: "ARRIVED SAFELY, NO SNOW BUT REAL COLD NICE TRIP BE BACK MONDAY MERRY XMAS TO ALL (equals) MINNIE & FRED."

The San Jose Mercury News says a cousin found the telegram in November and mailed it to one of six Ciolino daughters.

But it never arrived.

It was found last month by Daly City police Detective Joe Bocci, who is investigating a postal worker charged with stealing letters to finance his drug habit.