Families eye neighbourhood escape | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

The armed invasion of a Worksop Rd home has forced some neighbouring families to consider escaping a street they say is plagued with violence.

Te Ata Kelly, 19, earlier told the Times-Age that three masked men, two armed with shotguns, burst into the home she shares with son Korbin, 1, and partner Tyler Murphy, shortly after 11.30pm on Thursday.

Two other toddlers were asleep in the house when the armed men smashed through the back door, demanding drugs and money.

Ms Kelly secretly dialled Masterton police during the heist, in which her partner was beaten and received minor injuries.

Mr Murphy said he and Ms Kelly would soon leave the home with two fellow residents after another couple fled the house with their toddler within hours of the invasion.

A young mother of two, who was too afraid to be named, said she and her partner had lived across the road from the invaded home for 16 months.

She said the invasion capped "heaps" of incidents of random violence on the street beyond their gates since they shifted in with their children, aged 1 and 4.

"Two weeks ago there were three guys with weapons chasing another guy down the street at about midnight, screaming they were going to kill him.

"We reckon one of them had a golf club, because my partner found the head of a four iron embedded in our front lawn."

The woman said frequent violent incidents occurred on Residents want out

Worksop Rd about midnight, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Such incidents had dragged her family from their sleep since soon after they shifted there.

The couple had come close to quitting the home this year, but their landlord talked them into staying, the woman said.

That was in spite of her partner saying "many times" they should escape for the sake of their children.

"I don't let my kids go outside out the front, and we've been talking seriously about getting out since last Thursday. It really is getting too frightening and sooner or later, we might get caught up in it all."

Another resident, who also declined to be named, said he had lived with his wife at a property immediately adjacent to the invaded home for 12 years and lately had been talking about shifting to another part of town.

He said the couple had their young grandson living with them and the random violence on Friday and Saturday nights "has been scary for the wife and boy" and the home invasion next door had "really stepped it up".

"It's just too close for comfort - too close to home. It's been mostly drunks getting loud and getting into fights while they walk home past our place. But the home invasion really has upset my wife and if we move, it'll be for her and my grandson, for their safety."

Police are urging anyone with information about the armed invasion on Thursday to call Masterton Police on (06) 370-0300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.