By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A HEINOUS home invasion in Endeavour Hills over the weekend was likely a planned burglary, according to a detective from the Casey Crime Investigation Unit (CIU).
A 56-year-old man was viciously beaten with what was believed to be a steel pole on Saturday night after two male attackers forced their way into his Brindle Court home.
The offenders bound the victim’s hands and feet and beat him repeatedly, demanding money and searching the property before fleeing with a “substantial” amount of cash.
When the victim answered a knock on his door at 9.15pm, the attackers allegedly asked the victim if he was selling his car before forcing themselves into the premises.
Detective Sergeant Darren Hodge said he doubted the attack was a random crime.
“The attackers were probably aware that there was money there,” he said.
“They probably had information the victim had money on hand and I would suggest it was planned.”
While Sgt Hodge wouldn’t definitively rule out the possibility of the attack being random, his “gut feeling” told him it wasn’t.
“We tell people not to keep large amounts of money at home because it could make you a target,” Sgt Hodge said.
Casey CIU is now investigating the aggravated burglary which saw the victim taken to Dandenong Hospital where he was treated for bruising and lacerations to his face as well as a suspected broken nose.
The first attacker is believed to be in his 30s, is six-foot, with blonde curly hair and wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans at the time.
The second is believed ot be in his 40s, is six-foot two and wearing jeans and a dark blue polo shirt.
The attack comes eight months after another savage Endeavour Hills home invasion, in which grandmother Ilona Prohaska was stabbed in her Georgette Crescent house.
In October the News reported that the 73-year-old was still too terrified to return home after surviving the savage confrontation.
Despite the attacks being less than two kilometres from each other, Casey CIU Detective Senior Constable Andrew Rodwell, who attended the scene on Saturday night, said Endeavour Hills was no less safe than other suburbs in Casey.
“I’d say Endeavour Hills is one of the safer places.
“We door knocked the street following Saturday night’s crime and no one else in Brindle Court had ever been burgled,” he said.
“No one else that lived there had ever had an issue.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
