Masked gang rob family in their own home (From Daily Echo)

Masked gang rob Southampton family in their own home

3:55pm Monday 26th November 2012 in Crime By Jenny Makin, Crime Reporter

A POLICE hunt is underway for a masked gang who threatened and robbed three generations of a family at their home.

The terrifying ordeal happened on Sunday evening while the five adults and two children were at home between 8.15pm and 8.40pm.

The family was confronted by three men who threatened them with violence and demanded they hand over money and jewellery.

During the incident a 32-year-old man was struck on the head and had to be treated by paramedics who were called to the scene once the thieves fled.

The three men are all said to have been white, but were using scarves to hide their faces.

They made off with a haul of goods including gold rings, a bracelet, a laptop, watch and mobile phones.

The family managed to raise the alarm with police who went to their address in Mountain Ash Close, Bitterne, before using sniffer dogs and officers from the force support unit to search the area.

Officers believe the suspects may have left in one or two vehicles – one which was dark and the other either silver or light blue.

Det Sgt Graeme Eaton said the robbery does not fit the pattern of other incidents in the city were high value gold Asian jewellery has been stolen.

He said; “Almost all of these cases occurred when houses were empty. This incident involved an entire family who were at home. It is possible the family was targeted for some unknown reason.”

Detectives in Southampton are now urging anyone with information or who saw suspicious behaviour in the area last night to call CID on 101.