A young woman endured a terrifying ordeal when her Harpenden home was robbed by a gang of masked intruders.

Herts Advertiser: A safe similar to the one taken in the Harpenden robberyA safe similar to the one taken in the Harpenden robbery (Image: Archant)

A young woman endured a terrifying ordeal when her Harpenden home was robbed by a gang of masked intruders.

The victim was by herself at the family home on The Common after her parents had gone out for the evening, when three men forced their way into the property at around 10pm on May 14.

They stole a heavy safe and loaded it into the victim’s car – a brown Honda 4X4 with the registration number plate 8PXB.

The offenders are described as white, wearing balaclavas and gloves and armed with a baseball bat, and they made off in the victim’s vehicle following the raid.

Investigating officer Det Sgt Karen Lewis said: “Thankfully the victim was unharmed by the men but she was understandably very shaken-up by the frightening ordeal.

“I am appealing for anyone who saw a brown Honda 4X4 with the registration number 8PXB in the area following the offence to get in touch. We believe the vehicle, which is distinctive because of its colour, may have had fake number plates fitted to it.

“We also believe that the offenders arrived at the location in another vehicle and parked some distance away from the address, so I would also like to speak to anyone who saw three white men acting suspiciously in the area prior to the offence.

“This type of crime is unusual in Harpenden and I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the public that we are working hard to identify and arrest these offenders.”

Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is asked to contact Det Sgt Lewis as a matter of urgency via the non-emergency number 101, or alternatively contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or click here.