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Armed gang broke into family's home and threw 'acid' in grandad's face

This is the shocking moment a gang of armed thugs broke into a family home and squirted ‘acid’ in a grandfather’s face.

The four yobs, armed with hammers and a crowbar, smashed their way into the property in Chislehurst, south east London, threatening its occupants and ransacking their home.

During the terrifying ordeal an 11-year-old boy was dragged through the house to the lounge where the gang threatened violence if the family did not hand over their valuables.

The four men, all believed to be in their mid-20s, squirted an 81-year-old man in the face with a liquid – believed at the time to be corrosive substance – before a teenage girl was taken upstairs and forced to hand over her jewellery.

CCTV footage captured the gang preparing to force entry to the family's home
CCTV footage captured the gang preparing to force entry to the family’s home

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During the ordeal, which began at 6pm on March 5, one of the thugs kept the family in the lounge and threatened to take their mobile phones as the other three ransacked the home, stuffing jewellery into the girl’s black schoolbag.

But in the chaos one of the victims was able to call a family friend who alerted police to the burglary in Chislehurst, south east London.

The ordeal began with two of the robbers walking to the front of the gated home as two others walked behind a neighbouring set of bushes.

When no one answered the front door, all four walked through a side gate before smashing a rear patio door and rushing inside.

The gang are described as four stocky white men with Irish accents, wearing matching Converse All Star trainers, baseball caps and puffa-style jackets.

Repeat offenders?: A CCTV still from a burglary in nearby Keston in which a gang of four men stole a safe containing jewellery and watches (Metropolitan Police)
Repeat offenders?: A CCTV still from a burglary in nearby Keston in which a gang of four men stole a safe containing jewellery and watches (Metropolitan Police)

Detective Constable Ben Briselden, from Bromley Burglary Squad, believes the robbers are responsible for several burglaries in the area, possibly including one in the nearby village of Keston.

That robbery on February 21 saw a gang of four men making off with a heavy safe containing jewellery and watches.

Detective Constable Briselden said of the March 5 attack: “This was a terrifying burglary where a family were at home enjoying their evening and were threatened, and attacked, by four men who then stole their most valued possessions, which were of great sentimental value.

“We would urge anyone with information about this burglary to get in touch as soon as possible.”

If you can assist police with their enquiries, call Bromley Burglary Squad on 07795 334919 on or 101, or tweet @Metcc. To call anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.