Latest news with #Yea
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
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.
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Yea home invasion and fire may have been a case of mistaken identity, police reveal
Police believed three offenders who seriously injured a man and burnt down his home during an aggravated burglary north of Melbourne may have targeted the wrong victim. Investigators appealed for information from the public as they continued to investigate the incident on the Melba Highway at Yea on Monday, June 23. The 68-year-old victim told police the three offenders arrived at his rural property about 1:15am, armed with guns and a machete. He said they demanded money and firearms, blindfolded and assaulted him, and dragged him from his house into the boot of his car. The man said the vehicle was driven part way down his driveway before he was forced out of the boot and into a paddock where he was again assaulted and had petrol poured over him before his house was set alight. Police said three firearms used for farming were stolen from the property. The man told police he did not know his attackers, with investigators believing they may have gone to the wrong address. The victim has described the men as being of Middle Eastern appearance and said he believed they spoke Arabic during the incident. Detective Sergeant Flyn Loughlin said there had been an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers that gave some details about the incident. He said detectives were urging the caller to make further contact with police to provide additional information. "We need assistance from the public to help us identify the three offenders." Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV or dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- News.com.au
Manhunt after elderly man doused with petrol and assaulted before house set on fire
A manhunt is under way after an elderly man was doused with petrol and injured and his house set on fire during a violent home invasion in Victoria's northeast. Police say three unknown and armed people knocked on the door of a property on Melba Highway in Yea about 1.15am on Monday. Police understand two people were armed with guns and one had a machete and demanded the 68-year-old occupant let them inside the house. They demanded cash and firearms before assaulting the man who lived in the house after he refused to comply, according to police. 'Detectives were told they dragged him out of the house and into the boot of his own vehicle before heading down the driveway,' a Victoria Police spokesman said. Police say the man managed to get out of the car and was threatened by one of the offenders, while the other set the house on fire. 'The offenders poured petrol onto the victim, then fled the scene in a vehicle,' police said. Police say three firearms were stolen during the incident. The 68-year-old man sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the attack and drove to a neighbouring property to call emergency services. 'Police believe the incident was targeted and do not believe the offenders are known to the victim,' a statement read. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with no arrests made by police.
ABC News
23-06-2025
- ABC News
Yea home destroyed after burglars abduct man and set property alight fire during home invasion
Burglars have set a rural home alight, destroying it, during a home invasion in Yea in the early hours of Monday. ( ABC News ) A man has said he was abducted and his home destroyed by fire during a home invasion by burglars armed with guns and a machete north of Melbourne. Police said three offenders arrived at a rural property on the Melba Highway at Yea about 1:15am on Monday. The 58-year-old victim told investigators that they knocked on his door, demanding money and firearms, then assaulted him when he refused to comply. He told detectives he was dragged out of the house and forced into the boot of his own vehicle which was then driven down his driveway. Police remained at the Melba Highway property throughout Monday. ( ABC News ) Police remained at the Melba Highway property throughout Monday. (ABC News) The victims says three armed offenders set fire to his house after he refused to hand over money and guns. ( ABC News ) The victims says three armed offenders set fire to his house after he refused to hand over money and guns. (ABC News) The man says the burglars forced him into the boot of his own car, but he managed to escape. ( ABC News ) The man says the burglars forced him into the boot of his own car, but he managed to escape. (ABC News) The incident happened on a rural property on the Melba Highway at Yea. ( ABC News ) The incident happened on a rural property on the Melba Highway at Yea. (ABC News He said he managed to escape but was again threatened by one of the offenders while the other two set his house alight, burning it to the ground. The offenders also poured petrol onto the victim before fleeing the scene. Police said three firearms were stolen from the property during the incident. The victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries and drove himself to a nearby property where he called triple-0. The offenders were yet to be found. Investigation continued, with police urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Posted 5m ago 5 minutes ago Mon 23 Jun 2025 at 2:25am
