CCTV has been released of a gang breaking into a house in a terrifying burglary where they dragged around the family's children and squirted an 81-year-old in the face with liquid.
Described as four stocky white men with Irish accents and in their mid-20s, two of them rang the doorbell while the others went behind bushes.
When no one answered, they all went to the rear patio door of the property in affluent Chislehurst, southeast London, and smashed the glass with a crowbar.
Piling into the property, one man grabbed an 11-year-old boy from the lounge and dragged him through the hallway to where the rest of the family were sitting.
Another squirted an elderly man with liquid, believed at the time to be a corrosive substance.
They threatened to harm the family unless they told them where money and jewellery was kept.
As three of the gang searched the house, one of them grabbed a teenage girl and dragged her upstairs to find the valuables.
Luckily, one of the family was able to dial 999.
When the men found out police were on their way they stuffed the girl's schoolbag with jewellery and sped away in a silver Mercedes.
The gang all wore matching Converse All Star-style trainers, baseball caps and puffa-style jackets.
It happened at an address on Cookham Dene Close on 5 March, at around 6pm.
Police believe the men are behind a number of burglaries in the Chislehurst area, including one last month in nearby Keston where a safe was stolen and lifted into a car.
All the properties have been broken into through the rear after the door bell was rung.
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Detective Constable Ben Briselden, from Bromley Burglary Squad, said: "This was a terrifying burglary where a family were at home enjoying their evening and were threatened, and attacked, by four men who then stole their most valued possessions, which were of great sentimental value."
Anyone with information is asked to call Bromley Burglary Squad on 07795 334919 on or 101, or tweet @Metcc. To call anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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