2 robberies in Kennewick within a half hour. One was a home invasion break-in

Kennewick police are searching for the suspects in two robberies, including a home invasion, within a half-hour of each other Monday.

Shortly after 3:45 a.m., two men barged into a house on the 5600 block of West Metaline Avenue, Kennewick police said.

They came in through the unlocked front door of the home and woke up the homeowner who was sleeping on the couch, said Officer Roman Trujillo.

One held the man down, while the other took his wallet.

The homeowner struggled to get up but was thrown to the ground where he hurt his face, said police.

The suspects are described as about 5-foot-9, wearing dark clothes. One had slight facial hair and a medium build. The other had a slight build and possibly a tattoo on his face.

Police are checking for surveillance footage in the area to help ID the men.

Then at 4:15 a.m., a man walked into a Circle K convenience store on the 2100 block of West Fourth Avenue.

The robber implied he was armed with a weapon before demanding cash, Kennewick police said. After getting some money, he rode away on a bicycle.

The clerk was not hurt.

The man was described as having brown hair and a beanie-style hat, with a black mask and a long dark jacket.

This is the second robbery in week when a man claimed to have a weapon while robbing the store. Euro Mart at 3101 W. Clearwater Ave. was robbed just after 9 p.m. Thursday.

It’s also the second time in a week a robber has struck the same Circle K store. A man came in on Nov. 17, grabbed items, headed for the door and assaulted the clerk on the way.

Police are still investigating if any in a string of recent robberies are connected. Robberies in Washington state and the U.S. also are up this year.

Anyone with information about either of the robberies is asked to call Kennewick police at 509-628-0333.

This story was originally published November 22, 2021 at 11:37 AM.