Portland police are investigating a home invasion and robbery Sunday afternoon at an apartment building on Auburn Street.

Lt. Gary Hutcheson said that three or four men wearing black masks and black clothing burst into a man’s bedroom at Brookfield Apartments, 238 Auburn St., and hit him in the head with a “blunt instrument.”

The intruders, who were described by police as being white and in their 20s, then threatened the victim, 29-year-old Robert Delano, with more violence unless he gave them money.

At that point Delano, who had been asleep in his bedroom when the men invaded his home, gave the robbers an undisclosed amount of money. The men fled in what police described as a four-door, dark-colored car.

Police said the men entered the apartment through the front door. They did not know if the front door was locked or unlocked at the time.

Delano’s male roommate, who was in the apartment, was not injured or involved in the attack. No weapons or firearms were shown during the robbery.

Hutcheson said Delano called police to the apartment complex in the city’s North Deering neighborhood around 2:30 p.m., but when officers arrived he “became uncooperative” and refused to let them enter his apartment.

Police obtained a search warrant and were able to gain access to Delano’s apartment, which they searched for evidence.

Delano was transported to Maine Medical Center with injuries considered to be non-life threatening.

“At this point we don’t have a lot to go on. The detectives will process the evidence they gathered at the scene and hopefully we’ll know more tomorrow,” Hutcheson said Sunday.

Falmouth police Sgt. Kevin Conger and his police dog, Maxi, were sent to Portland to assist city police with their hunt for the intruders.

Anyone with information concerning the robbery or the suspects’ getaway vehicle is encouraged to contact the police department at 874-8596.

Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:

dhoey@pressherald.com