Police: Robbers targeted homeowner

MONROE - The Monroe family robbed of $25,000 at gunpoint in their home Monday night was targeted by the men pretending to deliver a package. “This was not a random act,” Monroe Police Detective Rob Compasso said Wednesday. The suspects remain at large after robbing the homeowners of $25,000 in cash and some valuable coins Monday night. The incident began at about 7 p.m. with a knock at the door of the family’s home, located at the upper end of Stage Road near Orange Turnpike. When the homeowner answered the door, two men stood in his doorway holding a package. As the homeowner was asked to sign for the package, the gunmen forced their way into the house. Pointing a gun at the homeowner, they demanded to know where the safe was located, Compasso said. The family, which included the homeowner’s wife and their young granddaughter, was herded into a room upstairs. The gunmen forced the wife to open the safe. Taking their stash, the suspects locked the family in the room by tying the door shut. They managed to open it and call police. The victims were not harmed, Compasso said. The detective said he could not disclose why the homeowner had such a large amount of cash in his home. The gunmen fled in a gray van, possibly a minivan. The description of the first suspect is a light skinned Hispanic male, 25 to 35 years old, 5’10”, 250 to 280 lbs. Except for a thin mustache, he was clean-shaven. He was wearing a dark gray coat with a white lining. The second suspect is a light skinned black male, unknown age, 5’11”, 170 lbs. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled down over his face. Even though police consider this a random incident, Compasso urged residents to be vigilant when answering the door. “Look out the window to first to make sure the person is who they say they are,” he said. Monroe Police are asking the public to call 782-8644 if they have any information regarding this case. All calls will be kept confidential.