A TERRIFIED mother has told of her horrific ordeal when she was attacked and robbed in her own home.

Naomi Gornall

A TERRIFIED mother has told of her horrific ordeal when she was attacked and robbed in her own home.

The 55-year-old had only been back from work for 45 minutes when she heard a knock at the door.

On opening it, she was knocked to the floor and held down by her attacker, as two other men walked into her house in Netley Close, Stoke Park, Ipswich, at around 4.35pm on Wednesday.

The man, who was kneeling on her back to stop her moving and holding his hand over her mouth, demanded to know where her car keys were.

Once they found them, the trio then ran out and stole her �18,000 BMW car, which was parked on the driveway.

The woman, who is too afraid to be named and has lived in the house for nearly 30 years, said: “When I opened the door, this guy just barged and threw me to the floor. I didn't even get to see his face because it happened so quickly.

“He knelt on me to hold me down. The first thing you try to do is struggle but he was too strong. I started screaming and shouting so he put his hand over my mouth.

“He said 'just give us the car keys and we won't hurt you.' I could hear footsteps walk past me so I knew there were others in the house.”

She pointed towards the room where the keys were in her handbag and was then hauled up, pushed into the living room, and thrown on the floor again.

The two other men grabbed her handbag and made off out the door. A few seconds later, the man kneeling on her also made a dash for the door.

The victim, whose husband was out at work at the time, struggled to her feet and shut the door before calling the police. While she was on the phone to them, she saw the men coming back towards the house and panicked but then watched as they got into the car and drove off.

She added: “It only lasted four or five minutes but it felt like forever. It was the longest few minutes of my life. I am completely bewildered. It is not the sort of thing that you would expect to happen here. I jump every time the doorbell goes. I am a bit nervous when I'm in the house alone. It has really shaken me up.”

Some of the contents of the bag were found in her front garden and the handbag was found further along the road.

Her bank cards were also taken. It is possible the car - a silver 320I SE BMW with the registration YH56 KRE - is now being used with false number plates.

THE first robber was of mixed race or tanned, aged in his late teens to early 20s, about 5ft 10ins, of slim to medium build and was wearing a dark-coloured lightweight hip length coat with a large hood that was up and a light-coloured scarf covering most of his face.

The other two men also wore dark-coloured clothing with their hoods up and scarves over their faces. One was about 5ft 10ins and the other was about 6ft.

Detective chief inspector David Cutler, crime manager for Ipswich, said: “I would like to reassure residents of Ipswich that this is an uncommon crime in Suffolk.

“May I take this opportunity to remind people to Stop, Chain and Check before answering their doors to callers.

“I urge anyone with any information in relation to this incident to contact police without delay.”

Police would like to hear from anyone who has any information in relation to this incident, anyone who was in the area at the time, anyone with any information about the offenders or anyone who knows where the BMW is now. Those with information should call detective sergeant Darren Bruce at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.