Father attacked in violent home invasion

A father of four is in hospital after he and his family were awoken early this morning by a group of men who smashed their way into their home and bashed him with pipes and a hammer, police say.

The family were asleep in their Lower Hutt home when the front door was smashed open by a group of three or four men about 3.30am, Detective Sergeant Tony Heathcote said today.

The father was attacked when he confronted the armed men as they made their way into his Witako St house.

He was taken to hospital after suffering non-life threatening head injuries.

"Fortunately the family were able to alert police at an early time and police arrived within two to three minutes of receiving the call."

Two of the offenders had left when police arrived but a third was apprehended and was now in police custody, Mr Heathcote said.

The man had suffered a head injury after struggling with the occupants of the house.

"That offender is being treated in hospital under police guard and we are not expecting to be able to speak with him for at least one to two days," Mr Heathcote said.

A car was heard speeding off down the street which police believe the two offenders used to get away, he said.

Police had been notified of an earlier incident about 8pm in nearby Pinny Ave.

"We are interested in speaking with anyone that saw a group of two to three people in that area at that time."

Mr Heathcote said police understood there had been an argument between the group, who may have been in a vehicle, and a local resident.

The argument began because the resident suspected the group was "casing the area with a view to committing burglaries".

"At the present time we cannot rule out the possibility that these two incidents are related."

Police and forensic scientists were today conducting a detailed scene examination and interviewing other witnesses.

"We are not sure of any motive for the attack at this stage."

Police would like to hear from anyone who saw unusual activity in the area, or saw or hear the vehicle speeding away.

- NZPA