Cromer home invasion

A brazen home invasion at Cromer has left a family traumatised, a man in hospital and his assailant on the run.

Around 8.30pm Wednesday, 06 October, a man armed with a baseball bat entered an unlocked front door of a house at Toronto Avenue, Cromer.

The male intruder approached the 49-year-old male resident and repeatedly hit him in the head with the bat. When the man’s wife tried to intervene, the assailant turned his savage attack on her, injuring her hand.

Northern Beaches Police Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Michael Boutouridis addressed a media conference outside Manly Police Station today, asking for anyone who may have information about the vicious crime to come forward.

Michael Boutouridis

“About 8.30pm last night, Northern Beaches Police responded to reports of a male armed with a baseball bat bursting into a home at Toronto Avenue, Cromer. The male allegedly made his way into the house and attacked a 49-year-old victim who lived there and beat him around the head and body.

“His wife came to his aid and she too was attacked and had an injured hand. The male went through the household and then left soon after without attacking the three children who were also home. Police responded and the first car was there within four minutes of receiving the call and they quickly established a crime scene.

“Crime Scene officers attended and they examined the scene and the area was searched with the assistance of the police helicopter and the dog squad. We conducted a search and located about 100m away from the household, a baseball bat that was discarded in a nearby creek.

“We’re not entirely sure that it’s connected but it’s a strong possibility. We think this was a targeted attack but most important right now it’s early days in the investigation, we do not have a motive for the attack,” said DCI Boutouridis.

The male victim was beaten around the head and upper body with the baseball bat by the assailant, and his wife received injuries to her hand trying to protect her husband.

“I can report that he was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he was treated and since been discharged. Luckily for him, he doesn’t have any broken bones but he’s got some significant lacerations and he received stitches to the head and severe bruising. He could have been killed, attacked with a baseball bat.

“She [the man’s wife] came to the aid of her husband and the offender turned his attention to her and beat her on the hand with a baseball bat. She had a pretty serious injury to her hand. She too was taken to hospital but I’m unclear as to her condition right now,” said DCI Boutouridis.

Two NSW Ambulance paramedic crews attended the scene, treating the husband and wife for their injuries. According to a NSW Ambulance spokesperson, the man sustained lacerations and bruising to his head and arm and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious condition. The wife, also in her 40s, was treated for a hand injury and taken to Northern Beaches Hospital in a stable condition.

Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command secured the crime scene and commenced a thorough search of the surrounding area with the assistance of the Dog Unit and PolAir. The assailant was not apprehended however a discarded bat was located in a nearby creek and has been seized for forensic examination.

“He left the scene and we think it’s possible that he discarded a baseball bat nearby. I appeal to the community to help us solve this crime. If you saw anything, I urge you to contact the Northern Beaches Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” said DCI Boutouridis.

DCI Boutouridis acknowledged the assault was extremely concerning and traumatic for the three children in the home while their parents were attacked. However, he also reassured the public that police do not believe there is a random attacker in the community.

“No doubt you can appreciate how traumatic it was for everyone in the house. If nothing else from this, I urge you to lock your doors. Even if they’re closed, make sure they’re locked. It was relatively early 8.30pm but offending like this has no set time.

“[However] we think this is a targeted attack. There isn’t an armed man with a baseball bat out there randomly bursting into homes to attack people. We think there’s some connection between the household and the offender but it’s unclear right now,” said DCI Boutouridis.

It is understood the male victim is a respected member of the local community and police so far have no clear motive for the attack. They have given a description of the man they are looking for.

“We’ll be talking to the victim further this afternoon. Our concern is that there’s an offender out there. No one was arrested last night, that person remains outstanding.

“He is described as a tall and lean male, in his 20s, dressed in black long pants, long sleeve shirt, and wearing some sort of face covering, possibly a balaclava or something wrapped around his face,” said DCI Boutouridis.

Investigations into the incident by NSW Police are ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. This includes motorists driving along Toronto Avenue at about the time of the attack who might have dash cam images of a man running from the area.

Image: Northern Beaches Advocate