A man and two teenagers have been charged with breaking into a family home in Melbourne’s east and repeatedly stabbing a father multiple times after forcing his wife into a bedroom with her children.
Police say five people smashed a large window to enter the home on Oxford Street in Kew East about 4am on Sunday.
It is alleged they were armed with a machete, knife and garden shears when they confronted the husband and wife, demanding access to a safe before separating the couple into different rooms.
The 39-year-old man was then allegedly stabbed 11 times in the face, neck and arms.
His 70-year-old and 69-year-old parents were also in the home at the time and were hurt when they tried to help their son, suffering cuts to the arm and leg as well as facial injuries.
Police believed the Kew East home was randomly chosen by the alleged offenders. (ABC News)
The husband was taken to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The wife was treated for minor injuries, and the older couple were also taken to hospital.
Two children, aged 2 and 3, and a fifth adult were not hurt.
Police said four of the alleged offenders fled in the family’s car, while the fifth left in the vehicle the group arrived in.
The family’s car was found in Deer Park, in Melbourne’s west.
Three males were arrested a short time later.
A 24-year-old Caroline Springs man was remanded in custody to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 5.
The teenage boys were both remanded to appear in a children’s court at a later date.
They’ve all been charged with multiple offences, including aggravated home invasion, intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, false imprisonment and theft.
Detective Sergeant Leeanne Trusler said the husband suffered serious injuries during the alleged home invasion. (ABC News)
“I’ve never seen anything like this. This is awful,” Detective Sergeant Leeanne Trusler said on Sunday.
She said the husband also had a broken arm and required eye surgery.
She alleged it was a random attack.
Police were still searching for the other two alleged offenders.