An Indian national has been left traumatised after burglars held a knife to his throat before stealing his car and electronic gadgets during a violent home invasion in Melbourne’s west.
The 32-year-old Indian national was sleeping on the couch in the two-storey apartment in Albion when three burglars armed themselves with kitchen knives after entering through an unlocked front door.
Five other occupants were sleeping upstairs when the incident happened at around 11:30 Wednesday night.
The burglars demanded wallets, electronics and car keys.
“[They] asked me to unlock my phone and reset my phone and then took all the electronics downstairs,” victim, Prabhadh Ponnamaneni said.
“They just wanted me to be quiet and they warned me, if I make any noise, they’ll hurt me,” he said.
The Indian national moved to Australia only a year ago and is in the process of getting visas for his wife and children, but is now having second thoughts about it after this terrifying experience.
"I was actually going to apply for a visa for my family but now I don't know, I'll have to think about it," Mr Ponnamaneni told 9 News.
He said he was aware of the crime incidents in the western suburbs but never thought he would experience it himself.
"We were six people staying in the house so we thought no-one would actually dare come in,” said the Indian national.
One person has been arrested after the stolen car crashed into a wall short time later in nearby Braybrook. Two men are still on the run.
