David McGregor, of Narre Warren South, beaten in frightening home invasion

A GROUP of thugs who beat up a man in his own home and left him with a cracked rib came back later and stole his car while he was in hospital.

A 59-YEAR-OLD Narre Warren South man has been left battered and “very emotionally shaken up” after opening his door at night to group of ruthless crooks who beat him up.

David McGregor answered the door to his Ormond Rd home after hearing a knock about 10pm on Monday night and six to eight men, believed to be of African appearance, charged into the home and punched and kicked him in the head and ribs.

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Mr McGregor told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell the men had grabbed a microphone stand belonging to him and hit him in the back of the head with it.

“I thought I was going to die,” he said.

“I really did.”

“They had me on the floor. They kicked me around the head. I just thought they were going to go in the kitchen, grab a carving knife and carve me up.

“I’m very emotionally shaken up right now.”

Before leaving, the men stole $350, as well as the keys to the victim’s house and car — a 2006 red Holden Commodore.

The car was later found abandoned in a Narre Warren street

Mr McGregor has since had the locks on his house changed.

He was taken to hospital after the incident, where he was treated for cuts and abrasions to the back of his head and a cracked rib.

While he was in hospital the thieves returned to the home and stole his car.

Mr McGregor said his attackers had accents and were wearing balaclavas.

“I understand that they’re coming from a country that’s literally hell on earth,” he told 3AW. “And they don’t want to be there — they don’t want to die, they don’t want to have their families shot.”

Police have been told the offenders appeared to be in their mid-to-late teens.

It’s understood the stolen car was seen in the Stonnington area about 5.30am.

Casey CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Sprague said the car was seen before that at the intersection of Burke Rd and Wattletree Rd in Malvern East about 3.15am.

“The car remains outstanding,” he said.

“It’s the car that we’re focusing on.

“There’s some aspects to [the car] that are quite distinctive.”

Det Sen-Sgt Sprague described the car as being “hotted up”.

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.

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