Three Lower Hutt residents are upset but unharmed after a group of masked men forced their way into their home.
Four men wearing balaclavas and dark clothing broke into the Charleston Avenue, Avalon address early on Saturday morning.
The police say the residents, who included an elderly woman, awoke to find the men breaking into their house.
They say the men made a hasty search before driving off in a BMW.
The police are investigating whether the incident is related to a home invasion in Stokes Valley on Wednesday, which also involved four masked men.
Detective Sergeant Mike Sears says the motive remains unclear in that attack.
He says the police are continuing to interview witnesses and neighbours, and are yet to establish the identity of the offenders.
He says the victim remains in hospital in a stable condition, haveing undergone surgery.
