Man attacked with hammer after disturbing burglars at Portslade home (From The Argus)

Man attacked with hammer after disturbing burglars at Portslade home

2:10pm Saturday 22nd September 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

A 26-year-old man was attacked with a hammer after disturbing a gang of masked burglars at his home.

The victim, named locally as Saif, was left bleeding heavily and suffered injuries to his head, face and thigh after up to five men set upon him as he entered his semi-detached home in Vale Road, Portslade, at 10pm on Thursday.

They took his Rolex watch, iPad, car keys, van and three bank cards.

After the attack, Saif ran to a nearby convenience store in Station Road where he used a staff member’s phone to call 999.

The gang fled Saif’s home, which he is in the process of decorating, in his van.

But bizarrely they drove for less than a minute before abandoning it close to a Tesco supermarket which faces onto Boundary Road.

Tracey Thorne, who gave birth just four weeks ago, lives opposite Saif’s home.

She was looking out of the window when the drama took place.

The 45-year-old said: “I saw the first police car show up. Then a lot more arrived, and police dogs.

“The police took away a van that was parked near Tesco.

“The man who lives there has only been there a few weeks.

“He is doing up the house and is doing a good job.

“We think he sleeps in the top bedroom as that light is usually on.

“He is friendly and always says hello.”

Det Sgt Nick Chambers said: “The victim has not given us anything to indicate that he knows the men involved.”

He said police spoke to Saif immediately after the attack and were waiting to question him further.

He was released from the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton yesterday but did not return home, which was being examined by scenes of crime officers.

The offenders are described as black, dressed in black and all with some form of face covering.

Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 101.