Suspects at large in armed home-invasion robbery in Cotati

A Cotati homeowner was unharmed Thursday morning after confronting in his family room two robbers, one of whom fired a pistol at the resident, police said.

The pair of robbers then forced the male resident to open a personal safe, which they emptied of cash and jewelry before fleeing the home, in the 8300 block of Lakewood Avenue, police reported.

The resident called police and was able to give descriptions of the two assailants, both of whom remain at large, police said.

Investigators are focusing on the possibility that the suspects and the robbery victim may be associated in some way, Lt. Bill French said. Armed home invasion robberies are extremely rare in Cotati, he added.

“I cannot remember the last time we had one,” French said.

Surveillance video taken outside the home shows the suspects approaching the residence about 8:48 a.m., French said. The face of one of the two men can be seen. French described him as a white man in his mid-20s, about 6 feet tall with brown hair and a scruffy beard.

The second suspect had a stockier build and stood about 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 11 inches, French said. That man wore a mask during the robbery and carried a firearm, French said.

Both men were wearing dark jeans with black pullover hoodie sweatshirts with dark sneakers, French said.

The brazen daytime robbery began when the two men entered the home through the unlocked front door, police said.

From the master bedroom, the resident, the only occupant home at the time, heard the intruders and confronted them, apparently startling the robbers, French said.

The shorter suspect fired once from a pistol, French said. The round missed the homeowner and lodged in a wall, French said.

The resident was then forced to open his safe. Police did not disclose the amount of cash and value of jewelry taken.

The suspects left on foot and may have parked a getaway car on nearby Lincoln Avenue, French said.

A least one neighbor witnessed the men approach the home and the gunshot also was heard by a neighbor, French said.

Police urged anyone with additional information about the crime to contact Cotati Police Officer Baudelia Gallo at 792-4611.