A Penal couple was left traumatised on Friday, after a home invasion involving a group of 12 men turned into a violent ordeal.
The attack occurred around 5.30 pm when the family, who had locked themselves inside their home, was ambushed by the armed intruders wielding a pickaxe to break through the doors.
Once inside, the assailants brutally assaulted a couple, inflicting severe injuries, before stealing a Samsung Galaxy A10 cellphone and $1,000 in cash.
The violence escalated when one of the attackers held the female victim hostage while the others abducted her husband and transported him to Carlito Trace Junction, where they continued to beat him.
As the horror unfolded, another attacker set the family’s Nissan B12 Sentra wagon on fire after dousing it with whiskey, completely destroying the vehicle valued at $15,000.
Despite a swift police response, the attackers managed to escape, leaving investigators with limited leads.
A pickaxe was recovered from the scene. The victims received medical attention and were later discharged.
Investigations are ongoing as police continue to search for the suspects.
—Rhondor Dowlat