House raiders punch woman

A BRAVE woman was punched, slapped and kicked as she tried to foil two masked intruders after they forced their way into her parents’ home.

The 44-year-old, who has not been named, was left with cuts and bruises after she had dramatically tried to stop the raiders making off with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery.

Detectives say the woman was confronted on the upstairs landing of the isolated house in Walcot Road, Barnack, by one of the raiders, wearing a black Balaclava, who demanded cash.

The woman said there was no money in the house and the intruder then searched the bedrooms and began to fill a pillow case with jewellery, including her parents wedding rings.

As the man took the jewellery, the woman tried to grab the pillow case and was then punched in the face which knocked her over and she was then kicked in the head as she lay on the floor.

Police say the aggravated burglary happened between 11.45am and 12.15pm on Friday when two men knocked at the door and said they had run a dog over on the road.

They then pushed their way past the 83-year-old man who had answered the door. Also in the house was the woman’s 84-yearold mother.

Detective Sergeant David Taylor said: “The daughter was then confronted by one of the men, wearing a black Balaclava, who demanded money.

“She said she had no money and one of the men began searching the house while the other stood by the front door.

“She tried to get out of the house but the burglar struck her to the face with the back of his hand.

“One of the men started putting jewellery into a pillow case which the daughter tried to grab.

She was punched in the face and then kicked in the face while on the floor.”

Ds Taylor said it is thought the two men escaped in a black estate car, possibly a BMW.

He said: “The daughter was not seriously injured but all three victims were left shocked and shaken by what happened.”

The burglars are described as white, about 5ft 7ins or 5ft 8ins, and also wore black fleece tops and black trousers.

The jewellery stolen was worth thousands of pounds but police were not able to give an exact figure for the value.

DS Taylor said: “This was a cowardly and despicable attack on two elderly and vulnerable people and their daughter.

“The violence they used was completely unprovoked and the jewellery they stole was of significant financial and sentimental value.

“It is important that anyone with information about who may have carried out this burglary contacts police.

He added: “The property is quite isolated but someone may have seen something significant that could be of great importance to this investigation.

Anyone with information should contact DS Taylor on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.