Police say it appears the victims of a home invasion robbery early Monday morning were targeted by their assailants.
The invasion and robbery took place after two women entered the Countrywood Court residence in northern Walnut Creek through the back yard shortly after midnight.
The women asked to use the victims' phone, according to a Walnut Creek Police statement.
Two men who were out of sight and the female suspects invaded the home when a resident turned around to reach for the phone.
The four residents inside the home were ordered to lie down on the floor at gunpoint while the group "ransacked the house," police said. One victim was punched in the face.
The suspects then left through the garage and fled after loading a car with stolen property.
Walnut Creek police Sgt. Tom Cashion said their investigation has revealed the suspects and victims were linked in some fashion.
"It appears this was not a random home invasion robbery," said Cashion. "It appears the victims were targeted by the suspects."
Cashion said the crime does not appear to be gang-related. He said investigators are still trying to determine the motive for the robbery.
Cashion said police have been called out to the Countrywood Court home in the past on other incidents. He would not say what those disturbances were.
Hank Herre, Countrywood Homeowners Association president, said the victims are renting their home. He said they'd lived there about six months.
Herre said the homeowners association has threatened to tow the victims' cars in the past because they were parked in visitor spaces. He said a truck with two flat tires parked on Countrywood Court belongs to the victims.
The suspects are described as a thin Hispanic man in his early 30s; another Hispanic male in his early 30s with a large or heavy build; a medium-build Hispanic woman in her late 20s; and a thin Hispanic/white female in her mid-30s.
The suspects' vehicle is described as a "lifted" Ford F250 with a loud diesel engine. A tool box is mounted in the bed of the truck.
Anyone with information about this case contact officer Bruce Jower or Detective Scott Moorhouse at (925) 943-5844.
Police also reported a home was burglarized on Countrywood Court the night before the robbery, but they don't believe the two crimes are related.
