A masked gang attacked and pummelled an unsuspecting man inside his Bricket Wood home while demanding cash.
Four thugs broke into a shared flat on Old Watford Road at about 10.45pm on January 25, surprising the 41-year-old victim in his bedroom.
Three of the criminals punched, kicked, and hit the victim when he did not hand over money, while a fourth waited outside on the landing.
One of them was wearing a skeleton mask to obscure his face.
However, when the victim called out for help to his housemates, the offenders fled empty-handed in an unknown direction.
St Albans Local Crime Unit Det Con Jody Perrin said: “This was a particularly unusual incident where the burglars used violence against the victim in order to try and extract money from him.
“He suffered head and face injuries including a broken nose as a result.”
The offenders were wearing all black - jackets, jogging bottoms and trainers - with various gloves. Two of them were sporting orange and white gloves, a third had donned a latex type, and the fourth man was wearing ones in a black and red motorcycle style.
Anyone with information about the incident should call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, using crime reference F3/18/186.
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