Steve Lieberman

slieberm@lohud.com

NEW HEMPSTEAD –

Ramapo police believe two armed men targeted a

Rubinstein Court house for a robbery

late Monday night after casing out the ranch-style building earlier this month.

Neighbors called the police on Aug. 7 about two men looking into windows and walking along the house's deck, Capt. Brad Weidel told The Journal News on Tuesday.

Weidel said detectives have a theory they are not ready to disclose as to why the armed men burst into the house at 10:30 p.m. Monday and stole a number of items.

"While one suspect detained the victim the other stole property from the residence," Weidel said.

Weidel said the police department wanted neighbors to know their neighborhood was not randomly chosen.

"We thought it was prudent to reassure the people living in the neighborhood about what we learned and that the house was targeted," Weidel said. "This is a serious crime and we wanted the public aware."

Police are in the early stages of the investigation and are being assisted by the Rockland Sheriff's Office Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Investigators are still looking for a description of the the car the two men used to make their getaway.

Weidel said he believe several families live in the house and New Hempstead village officials will be asked to review whether it violates local zoning.

The five bedroom raised-ranch house is owned by a Staten Island couple, Pedro and Deiouri Maradiaga, who bought the property for $199,000 on Dec. 15, 2011, according to the Ramapo Assessor's Office.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Ramapo Police Department at 845-357-2400.