A GANG which burst into the wrong Southampton home in what was believed to be a botched robbery could have come back to try again, the Daily Echo can reveal.
Police are probing whether an arson attack on a house in the same street is linked to a raid in which a family was left terrified when three masked men barged their way into their property in the early hours.
In the latest incident, a 15-year-old boy woke to discover someone had pushed a crate against the front door of the family home in Grove Road, Shirley, and torched curtains, newspapers and a duvet cover stuffed inside it.
The teenager used water to frantically try and put out the flames before the smoke alarm woke his mother and two elder siblings, who had also been sleeping upstairs.
Police believe someone was trying to burn down the house but the fire was put out before it got out of hand, and only damaged the door.
The arson, which happened at around 4.30am on Wednesday, comes less than a fortnight after the botched burglary on a house down the road.
A 51-year-old man and his 16-year-old son were pushed into their living room by the raiders, after answering a knock on the door at 2.15am on January 29.
Two masked men stormed upstairs to search bedrooms, where the|householder’s terrified wife and |five-year-old daughter were cowering.
But as the raiders searched the |property one was heard to mutter they had “the wrong house” before all three left hurriedly.
The family was left shaken but unharmed, and nothing was taken.
Police are now appealing for any |witnesses to the arson attack to come forward.
They particularly want to hear from anyone who has lost a grey and red packing crate with the words ‘Teacrate PLC, Crate Rental Co’ written on the side, Anyone with information should call Detective Constable Vicki Boddy at Shirley CID on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
