Police are investigating a Tauranga home invasion in which two men armed with a screw driver and a metal pipe entered a family home and attacked a male occupant early today.
The occupant was awoken by the two men breaking in at around 1.00am and went to investigate the noise
while his partner called the police and went to assist him, Sergeant Eddie Lyttle said.
The intruders then attacked the man waking three sleeping children, aged nine to 15, Mr Lyttle said.
During the fight the occupant was punched and kicked numerous times by both intruders.
The fight continued outside the address when a short time later the intruders ran off realising police were on the way.
The occupant of the address suffered cuts and bruising to his face and body but did not require medical treatment.
Mr Lyttle said the home invasion at Carlton was a particularly disturbing one because it had been a family home.
Police were speaking to witnesses and asked anyone who had seen the suspects or any persons who have any information in relation to the assault to come forward.
The offender armed with the screwdriver was described as a male, possibly Maori, around 1.73m tall, wearing a dark green balaclava, dark hoodie and long dark coloured pants.
The second offender was described as a male Maori, around 1.83m tall possibly in his 30s wearing a grey hoodie and dark coloured long pants.
- NZPA
