Police hunting five men after home invasion

Palmerston North police are hunting five men following a violent home invasion near the central city area early today which left a mother and her small child traumatised.

The five men, armed with a sawn-off rifle and knives, forced their way into the Owen St house about 12.30am demanded drugs and money, Detective Sergeant David Clifford said today.

"It wasn't a random attack," he told NZPA.

"They have gone there with a purpose, believing they knew the occupants."

The house was occupied by two men, their female flatmate and her two children aged three and one.

Both men were assaulted by the group but neither was seriously injured, Mr Clifford said.

The woman and her three-year-old child were very upset after witnessing the attack.

The men took a small amount of property and left in a car parked nearby, he said.

Four of the attackers had their faces covered with balaclavas and bandanas but were described as Maori or Polynesian of average to solid build.

The fifth did not have his face covered and was also Maori or Polynesian of average height and was overweight with straggly black hair.

- NZPA