Man armed with knife, machete filmed wandering through home before stealing prized ute

A Cranbourne West father has told of the moment a man armed with a machete and knife rummaged through his suburban home while three children slept inside.

A father has told of the moment a man armed with a machete and knife walked through his home while three children were sleeping during a terrifying home invasion on Saturday.

The alleged offender was caught on Trevor O’Connor’s CCTV system rummaging through the Cranbourne West family’s belongings in their kitchen armed with the two weapons.

The alleged offender, wearing gloves, a mask and head torch, forced his way through the Aquatic Drive home’s back window before making off with two sets of car keys, a wallet and Mr O’Connor’s prized Holden VE SS ute.

He was filmed on the home’s CCTV, obtained exclusively by the Sunday Herald Sun, wandering through the lounge and kitchen area with a machete and knife in each hand.

He appeared calm relaxed, and in no hurry to leave the inside of the suburban home.

He had a machete in his right hand and a knife in his left. Picture: Supplied

The alleged offender wandered around the lounge room and kitchen. Picture: Supplied

Mr O’Connor’s wife and their two children, aged 12 and 14, and another young family member, were all inside asleep while the offender walked through their home about 3.25am on Saturday morning.

“The worst part I guess is that you’re in your bed, you’ve got kids in the house and someone is walking through your house with a machete and a knife,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“That’s probably the worst part about it.

“He’s come in, canvassed the kitchen, computer area, ruffled through my wife’s handbag, (taken) my wallet, keys and a few other things.

“Being in your house with your kids asleep, it’s not a nice feeling knowing someone can just wander in and help themselves.”

The alleged offender took Mr O’Connor’s beloved VF Commodore, keys to another vehicle, a wallet, and items from his wife’s handbag.

Mr O’Connor’s Holden VE SS ute was allegedly stolen. Picture: Supplied

He found some items near his home that had been thrown from the ute.

He rummaged through his wife’s handbag on the couch. Picture: Supplied

His home, which was locked, is equipped with sturdy security doors, extensive CCTV systems and a padlocked gate at the front.

He said the offender found a tiny gap in a back window which was used to gain entry.

“We thought we’d done all the right things. We’ve got the Crimsafe doors, padlocks on the gate, we’re very vigilant,” he added.

“One of the back windows was ajar a little bit, maybe an inch or two, he’s then cut fly wire, reached in and wind the window out.

“The offender had gloves on, he’s probably been to agg burg school and knew what to do.”

He said the offender struggled to move the car as it was a manual transmission.

“He’s trying to start the car without the clutch in and I thought it might’ve been a deterrent on its own, because a lot of these people don’t know how to drive manual,” he added.

“He’s probably driven into Melbourne in first gear the whole way.”

Police last month revealed that just 20 youth offenders were responsible for 309 aggravated burglaries in the past year.

The Casey CIU are continuing to investigate.