Surveillance footage captures the terrifying moment a heavily armed gang attempt a home invasion in New Mexico by using a woman pleading for help as a decoy 

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A shocking video of an attempted home invasion by a woman and three heavily-armed men was released on Monday by New Mexico police. 

Alamogordo PD appealed for help in identifying the gang of four and released the frightening surveillance camera video from the incident that took place shortly after 9pm on Thursday night.

The footage from a home's front porch in the 200 block of Stanford Avenue shows a woman approaching the door as an apparent decoy and ask the owner for help.

With the door opened, suddenly three men armed with handguns and assault rifles appear and try to force their way inside the home.

However, the owner manages to close his door to the attackers and having failed to gain entry they eventually flee on foot from the house. 

A shocking video of an attempted home invasion by heavily armed men was released by New Mexico police. The footage from a home's front porch in the 200 block of Stanford Avenue shows a woman (pictured) approaching the door to speak with the person inside

When the resident opened the door, a dog ran out of the home and into the front yard

Moments later a man (left) carrying a handgun walked up to the home and the resident quickly shut and locked the door. The dog was not harmed and eventually was taken back inside once the gang had fled

'The female suspect came up and was asking for assistance from the resident,' said Deputy Chief Roger Schoolcraft to The Alamogordo News . 

'We're not going to specify what kind of assistance but she wanted to use his phone.

'While he's talking to her, you can see the three males coming up to the house. The homeowner sees that and he slammed the door, locks it and (in the security footage) you see them trying to breech the door.'

The police have not publicly speculated why that home was chosen, but Schoolcraft did say that 'as far as police know, the resident did not know any of the suspects or why they were there'.

'All the commotion, they probably figured someone was going to hear them and I think that's what spooked them off or maybe a car drove down the next road and scared them off,' said Chief Schoolcraft.

The man then pulled the door open as two other men ran up to the porch. One man (right) appeared to be armed with an assault rifle

 When the men realized they weren't getting into the home, they darted off into the night. Authorities released the footage hoping to identify the individuals involved

The suspects all appear to be in their mid-20s and when police released the footage to their Facebook page, many residents claimed to recognize one of the men.

When the resident first opened the door, an inquisitive dog ran out of the home and into the front yard. 

Indeed, after watching the footage many expressed concern for the dog's safety, but police said that the dog was not harmed and eventually was brought back inside. 

Seconds later a man carrying a handgun walked up to the home and the resident quickly shut and locked the door.

The man then tried to pull the door open as two other men ran up to the porch.

The suspects all appear to be in their mid-20s and when police released the footage to their Facebook page, many residents claimed to recognize one of the men

Alamogordo Police are asking anyone with information to contact police immediately or Crime Stoppers at (575) 434-7812

One man appeared to be armed with an assault rifle. 

When the men realized they weren't getting into the home, they darted off into the night. Authorities released the footage hoping to identify the individuals involved. 

'It was scary and very unusual for Alamogordo,' said Schoolcraft said. 'Our detective unit is actively working it but we are reaching out to the public to see if anyone can possibly identify at least one or two of the suspects because we need to get these people off the street.' 

Alamogordo Police are asking anyone with information to contact police immediately or Crime Stoppers at (575) 434-7812.