Police say wrong man was targeted in ‘vicious’ armed invasion, assault at Yea property
An elderly man who was doused in petrol, blindfolded, assaulted and forced into the boot of his own car may have been the victim of a shocking case of mistaken identity, police say.
Victoria
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A 68-year-old man who was doused in petrol, blindfolded, held at gunpoint and forced into the boot of his own car may have been the victim of a shocking case of mistaken identity in north-east Victoria.
The Yea man was viciously assaulted when three armed intruders knocked on the rear door of his Melba Highway property on June 23.
Police said the men — armed with guns and a machete — forced their way into the home and demanded cash and firearms.
Police said as a result of not being able to meet the specific demands, the victim was attacked in a “heinous, violent, abhorrent and disgusting” manner.
He was blindfolded by the offenders, attacked and “frog marched” from the home before being shoved into the boot of his own car.
Police said one of the alleged offenders drove the car to a nearby paddock where he was forced out of the car and further assaulted.
The group then allegedly doused the man in petrol.
Police allege one of the offenders held the man at gunpoint while the others allegedly torched the victim’s house — which was completely destroyed in the fire.
The three men fled the property in another vehicle with three firearms used for farming stolen from the property. Those firearms are yet to be recovered by police.
The victim was able to make it back to his property, despite his injuries, to retrieve another vehicle and drive to a nearby property to call for help.
“This is a crime that is quite foreign to this part of north-east Victoria … this is kind of Melbourne encroaching on rural Victoria,” Detective Sergeant Flyn Loughlin said.
The Sgt said police are treating the incident as a targeted attack but believe the offenders attacked the wrong person.
“We’re continuing to investigate the circumstances and the possibility that these offenders have incorrectly targeted the wrong house and wrong intended victim — a victim who was unable to meet their specific demands,” Sgt Loughlin said.
“He is a tough, country, rural farmer … a salt of the earth type man who has lived in the area for decades.”
The intended target of the violent attack is yet to be identified.
Police said the 68-year-old suffered significant lacerations to the back of his head — believed to have been caused from being pistol whipped — a broken finger and lacerations to the tops of his hands.
“He will recover physically but I don’t know how anyone recovers quickly from an attack on you in the sanctity of your own home,” the Sgt said.
The victim told police the offenders were Middle Eastern in appearance and spoke Arabic throughout the assault.
Police are now appealing for an anonymous tipster to come forward again with further information.
Within the last week a member of the public reported information to Crime Stoppers and police are hoping for the person to expand on the intel they originally provided.
“We’re urging an anonymous caller to Crime Stoppers who recently provided us with information regarding the incident to make further contact and provide any additional details,” Sgt Loughlin said.
Originally published as Police say wrong man was targeted in ‘vicious’ armed invasion, assault at Yea property
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