Palmerston North couple beaten by intruder

A burglar armed with a home-made weapon this morning burst into the bedroom of a Palmerston North couple and beat them both over the head.

Police said the husband and wife in their 50s were asleep in their bed in Cloverlea on the outskirts of Palmerston North when the invader entered their house just before 3am.

The couple confronted him and were able to overpower him. Detective Dave Thomson said it appeared the man used home-made nunchakus, a martial arts weapon.

He said the couple managed to overpower the intruder, gain control and call police, who arrived at the house about 3.45am to find the 19-year-old man restrained in the bedroom.

Mr Thomson said the pair both received cuts and bruises to their faces. He said the 52-year-old woman had bad swelling around her eyes and was taken to Palmerston North Hospital for observation.

- nzpa