KEY POINTS:
Three men broke into a woman's home in Hamilton yesterday and threatened her with a knife in front of her three grandchildren.
Police are hunting the men, who stole jewellery worth thousands of dollars.
The 58-year-old woman had been at her home on Ohaupo Rd with her grandchildren when she heard something amiss about 2.40pm yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Page of the Hamilton CIB.
She investigated and saw three men through a window at her back door.
The men kicked the door, which was closed but unlocked, to get into the house.
One was armed with a knife and another had a piece of wood, Mr Page said.
"They demanded food from the woman and threatened her with violence if she didn't cooperate."
She managed to escape and raise the alarm at a neighbours, then returned to find the jewellery missing.
The men were last seen fleeing on foot.
They were described as three dark skinned males aged 25-35, two were more than 1.8m tall, while the third was noticeably shorter.
"Given the seriousness of this incident we are fortunate no one was harmed in the attack and we're seeking the public's assistance in identifying these men," Mr Page said.
- NZPA
