Masked men break into home, threaten to kill

The victim was sleeping alone in his home when two masked men entered his bedroom. Photo / Thinkstock

Two men have been arrested after they allegedly terrorised another man, breaking into his home, binding his legs with tape and threatening to kill him.

The 49-year-old victim was sleeping alone in his Ruawai home when two masked men entered his bedroom about 12.30am on Saturday and punched him.

Detective Sergeant Jonathan Tier of Dargaville police said the intruders had also held what was believed to be an air pistol to the man's head, assaulting him with it.

The invaders made threats against the man to get him to take them to an money machine and withdraw cash, further threatening the victim's family if he didn't hand any money over.

He was assaulted "a number of times" before the invaders left.

They took a credit card, a cellphone and a computer tablet, but were located soon after as the victim recognised the voice of one. The ordeal had "terrified" the man, who was taken to Dargaville Hospital with a head injury.

Police from Ruawai, Dargaville, and a Whangarei dog handler found the invaders at a nearby property, which was searched. Police seized "a number of exhibits" and a vehicle, which will be forensically examined.

Two men were to appear in the Whangarei District Court today, a 19-year-old on a charge of aggravated robbery, and a 23-year-old on a charge of aggravated robbery and another of burglary relating to a break-in at the same property on August 10.