Melton South family grateful to avoid harm after threatened by masked invaders
A GANG of eight masked men, armed with knives and bats, has terrorised a Melton South family during a frightening night-time home invasion.
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LEFT unable to defend himself because of a severe injury to his back, Riccardo Accaputo feared for the worst when masked men with knives and baseball bats terrorised his family’s home.
Mr Accaputo, 31, and his 68-year-old aunt were home alone when between six and eight men broke into the property on Gillespie Drive, Melton South about 7pm on Wednesday.
“They ransacked the place, going through everything and asking where the keys to the car out front were,” he said.
“I couldn’t really move or do anything but mostly I just wanted to protect my aunt because I was worried they were going to use the weapons.”
The group found the keys and fled in the stolen car, a white Ford XR8 sedan with registration GS0038, and the pair were left unharmed
But Maria Accaputo, Riccardo’s mother, said the situation could have been much worse.
“My sister Paula saw them raising their bats and going to attack them but thankfully one of the members saw Riccardo’s neck brace and talked the rest of them out of it,” she said.
“Somewhere in there was a glimmer of compassion at least.
“They all had baseball bats and knives. It was absolutely terrifying for them.”
The attack comes as two Melton men charged by police on Wednesday after a Hillside woman was beaten and tied up in her own house.
Mrs Accaputo said she had only moved into the new housing estate at the end of March, with many homes still under construction or yet to be handed over to their owners.
“They forced their way in from the bedroom window and went through everything searching for cash and all sorts of things.
“Even if they had tried to stop them, there were eight or so men there so they had no chance.”
“You do wonder if they drove around here because they thought there would be less people around to spot them.
The Melton Crime Investigation Unit is investigating the incident and anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.