Robbery is a serious and terrifying crime, the psychological effects of which can stay with its victims long after physical injuries have healed.

But to inflict this sort of ordeal on people in the supposed sanctuary of their own homes raises this offence to a different and dreadful level.

Readers will have noted with concern that a number of families have recently been targeted in exactly this way.

Yesterday we heard how masked, knife-wielding raiders broke into a family’s house, tied up two young girls and held a blade to the throat of the youngsters’ father.

He was beaten and his wife hit in the face with a knife handle in the brutal and terrifying ordeal.

Today a man has come forward to tell how his family were singled out in a similar attack while he was away on business.

Police believe that these recent robberies and two others – all in the Heaton area of Bradford – are the work of the same people.

The callousness and brutality of this gang is truly chilling and their deeds have understandably sent shockwaves throughout the community.

They are desperate and dangerous criminals who pose a real risk to people’s safety and they need to be stopped before they cause more misery.

Anyone with any information which could help catch them must come forward as a matter of urgency.