DANA POINT : Two Face Charges in Home Robbery

Two men are scheduled to be arraigned today on robbery charges after they allegedly invaded a Mesa Vista Drive house, tied up the owner and stole $1,200 and a .45-caliber handgun.

Michael Anthony Rzepecki, 19, of Fullerton and Jose Luis Guerrero, 18, of Santa Ana are scheduled to enter pleas today in South Orange Municipal Court on one count each of robbery, Sheriff’s Department Lt. Bob Rivas said. Both were being held in Orange County Jail on Tuesday in lieu of $50,000 bail each.

Rivas said the robbery occurred at 11 a.m. Monday. The victim, a 28-year-old bicycle shop owner whose name was not released, was in her house cleaning when the doorbell rang several times in rapid succession, followed by loud knocks on the door.

“She went to a bedroom window and saw a man with what appeared to be a bouquet of flowers and a clipboard walking to the side of her house,” Rivas said. “She opened the front door and went outside a few feet. The man sees her and walks over and hands her the clipboard. He says something like, ‘I’m sorry to have to do this,’ chokes her by the neck, drags her into the house and . . . subdues her.”

The second intruder followed his accomplice inside and the two men bound the victim with duct tape before demanding cash, Rivas said.

“She said she didn’t have any, so they ransacked the house,” Rivas said.

The assailants fled in a van. The victim was able to free herself and called police. When deputies arrived, she gave them a description of the van and the men.

“At the time we broadcast the description, a deputy in Laguna Niguel spotted the van, a stop was made and the $1,200 and the handgun were recovered,” Rivas said.

Rivas said the suspects were not immediately connected to any other robberies or burglaries.