A gang of burglars attacked a Portslade man with a hammer after he disturbed a break-in at his home.
The burglars hit him on the head and left him bleeding profusely as they escaped in his van. They also stole a Rolex watch, an iPad, an iPod 4S and three bank cards.
The man found the intruders in his house in Vale Road, Portslade, when he returned home just after 10pm last night (Thursday 20 September).
After being attacked, the victim ran to a local shop for help. Meanwhile, the men made off in his white Transit van which was found by police about half an hour later in Symbister Road.
A police dog picked up a track from the van to the rear of the nearby Tesco store but the men were not located.
Sussex Police said: “It is believed there were four or five offenders who are described as black, dressed in black and all with some form of face covering, including one wearing a woolly black hat pulled down over his face with eye holes cut as a makeshift balaclava.”
The victim described the first member of the gang to confront him as black, 20 to 25 years old and with short dark hair. He had his hood up and a plain black scarf covering his mouth and nose.
The victim was treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for injuries to his face, head and thigh. None are thought to be serious.
Detective Sergeant Nick Chambers said: “This was an alarming attack and it is fortunate that the injuries inflicted were not more serious.
“We are investigating whether this man and his house were specifically targeted and would like to hear from anyone who saw the suspects in the area in the time leading up to the attack or who saw them leaving the van when they abandoned it in Symbister Road.
“This would have been at some time between 10.23pm and 10.54pm.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
