Brisbane family forced to barricade themselves in bedroom during teen home invasion

Behind this confronting photo of footprints on a white door is a story of one family’s absolute terror that took place inside their Brisbane home in the early hours of this morning.

A family of four have been forced to barricade themselves in a bedroom as teens who had broken into their home tried kicking the door down.

A confronting image shows footprints on the door which Robyn Sinclair and her partner Doug Newnham held closed as their children, aged five and seven, cuddled together under blankets.

Police are investigating the alleged break-in that occurred around 1.30am at Morningside on Wednesday. No one has been charged and it is unclear how many youths attempted to break-in.

The terrifying incident started when Mr Newnham went into a hallway after hearing a noise only to be confronted by the group of teens.

He saw the “shadow of a knife” and fled into another room, barricading the door.

Footprints of alleged offenders who broke into a Morningside home on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

The offenders screamed “give us the f******* keys you c***” as they tried to forced their way into the bedroom.

“Doug leant on the door, they tried the doorknob first, and then gave an almighty kick because Doug pulled back, then they gave it two more kicks,” Ms Sinclair said.

Their five-year-old was already in their bed but they were concerned for their other daughter’s safety who was in another room.

“I’m screaming that the police are coming. They went to leave, and at that point Doug flung the door open and went to our daughter’s room to grab our seven-year-old. He ran in there and shut the door,” she said.

“I held on to the door, they came back and gave it another three kicks. I had my foot against and bruised my toes.”

Ms Sinclair said eventually the family was reunited and the kids stayed together while the parents held the door closed.

“Doug ran, sent my oldest daughter down like across the hallway. And she said she saw a man standing at the end of the hallway with a hoodie over his head,” she said.

“My kids were under the sheets holding each other. And my eldest was saying to my youngest, ‘it’s going to be okay, we’re going to be okay’.”

The offenders attempted to take car keys.

Ms Sinclair said as a healthcare worker it was sad and also a lesson to make sure all the windows were locked.

“Mental health, drug use, cost of living, social socio economic barriers have resulted in this because this is what happens when people get desperate and scared and normal people don’t do this,” she said.

“Well adjusted people don’t do this to other people in their own homes.

“I’m scared for our kids. I don’t know what kind of effect it’s going to have on them long term.”

Mr Newnham said it was a terrifying experience.

“It’s terrifying today. It’ll be terrifying tomorrow, it will be terrifying for a little while I think,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have cared if they robbed us blind, I wouldn’t have cared as long as everybody’s safe.

“My only what if is what if they had gotten through the door.”

Police are asking anyone with information or relevant video to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Brisbane family forced to barricade themselves in bedroom during teen home invasion