Auckland businessman bound and beaten during St Heliers home invasion, police investigating

Police said the man was assaulted before the group stole a number of items, including cash, from his St Heliers home.

An Auckland businessman was assaulted and cash and other items were stolen in a home invasion in the affluent suburb of St Heliers, police have confirmed.

The man, who asked to be known as “John” out of concern for his safety, told Stuff he found four masked and gloved men in his home early on Tuesday morning.

A police spokesperson confirmed the assault to the Herald and said they received a report of four people entering the property at 4.30am.

“They have assaulted the victim before taking a number of items, including cash,” the spokesperson said.

“However we would like to remind the community to take note of any suspicious behaviour,” the spokesperson said.

John told Stuff the group tied his wrists with duct tape, tossed him on the bed and then took “everything of value”, including his wallet.

They demanded the combination to his safe and removed everything from it. His phone and his wife’s jewels were also taken.

John said he had heard a disturbance early on Monday.

He told Stuff that when he got out of bed to look, he found a man crouched behind his bathroom door. The burglar, whom John characterised as an “insignificant fellow”, claimed to be “just looking for a mate”.

“I checked to make sure he didn’t have anything in the bag he was carrying, and I kicked him out,” John said.

Police are investigating and say the burglary is believed to be an “isolated incident”.