Wrong man attacked in ‘vicious' armed home invasion, police say
A 68-year-old man may have been the victim of a horrifying case of mistaken identity after he was ambushed, assaulted and his home burned to the ground in a violent home invasion in regional Victoria.
Detectives are appealing for public assistance as they continue to investigate the brutal incident, which occurred at a rural property on the Melba Highway in Yea about 1.15am on June 23.
According to police, three armed intruders, two carrying firearms and one armed with a machete, knocked on the door of the property and confronted the elderly man.
Police say the offenders demanded cash and a firearm, but when the man was unable to meet their demands, he was blindfolded and assaulted.
Detectives were told the attackers then dragged the man outside and forced him into the boot of his own vehicle.
One of the offenders then drove the vehicle a short distance along the driveway before removing the victim and taking him into a nearby paddock.
There, police say, the assault continued.
According to investigators, petrol was poured on the man and one of the attackers held him at gunpoint, while the other two returned to the property and set the house alight.
The home was destroyed in the blaze with no one inside at the time.
The three offenders fled the scene in another vehicle, stealing three firearms used for farming.
The weapons have not been recovered.
The victim, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, managed to drive to a neighbouring property and call triple-0.
Police said the attack appeared to be targeted, but they now believed the perpetrators had the wrong house.
'This is an extremely vicious, violent, and cowardly attack on (an) elderly victim who lives alone in a remote area, and we need assistance from the public to help us identify the three offenders,' Detective Sergeant Flyn Loughlin said.
'We're continuing to investigate the circumstances and the possibility that these offenders have incorrectly targeted the wrong house and wrong intended victim – a victim who was unable to meet their specific demands.'
A report with some details was made anonymously to Crime Stoppers, and police are urging the person who called to come forward again.
'We're urging an anonymous caller to Crime Stoppers who recently provided us with information regarding the incident to make further contact and provide any additional details,' Detective Sergeant Loughlin said.
No arrests have been made at this stage, and the investigation remains ongoing.
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