Man hit with a wrench in home

The men made off with two game consoles, a mobile phone and a sum of cash at the man’s home at Colinbrook Gardens after hitting the 23-year-old man with a wrench.

At 9.40pm the occupant answered a knock to his door when he was confronted by four males who then forced their way into the property.

The males, one carrying a firearm while another was carrying a large wrench, then forced the man to lie down on the floor and struck him across the head with the wrench.

The males searched the property before making off with items including cash. It is believed the men left the area in a vehicle. The man was taken to hospital for treatment to a cut to his head.

Anyone who noticed any unusual activity in the area or who has any information is asked to contact detectives at Lisburn Police Station on 0845 600 8000. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

SDLP Dunmurry Cross Councillor Brian Heading said: “This is an appalling attack on a young man who should be able to feel safe in his own home, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

“I am concerned that the current economic climate is playing a part in incidents similar to this one, with disaffected and impoverished people, many of them young, turning to crime as a means of funding a better life.

“While I cannot rightly say what drove those behind this despicable attack to do what they did, I do think that strategising for crime prevention should go hand in hand with social change and shoring up the economy so that, whatever else, deprivation is less of a driver for crime.

“It is, however, imperative that those behind the attack in Colinbrook Gardens are found and brought to justice, and I implore anyone with any information to go to the police or to call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.”