A 76-year-old man was allegedly assaulted, tied up and dragged from his home before it was set on fire during a “vicious” targeted attack on Tasmania’s east coast this morning.
The man, who lived alone on a large rural property at Coles Bay, was found in his yard with his hands and feet bound after emergency services were called to a house fire around 7am on Saturday.
Police say two men wearing balaclavas and dark clothing forced their way into the home about 5am and assaulted him with a crowbar.
They repeatedly demanded access to his firearms safe before stealing nine registered firearms and a quantity of cash.
The men allegedly bound him with cable ties, dragged him into the yard and set the house alight. The home was destroyed.
Before fleeing, they stole his white 1998 Toyota Hilux single-cab ute, which has a red crane, three spotlights and a light bar.
The ute was found almost fully submerged under the Apsley River Bridge along Coles Bay Road, near the intersection with the Tasman Highway, on Saturday afternoon.
The man was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Inspector David Gill said the firearms had been stored securely and the man was assaulted until he opened the safe.
“No one can imagine the fear and apprehension that this man has suffered, nor the anguish that his family members and friends are currently going through,” he said.
Inspector Gill said the property, which sits about half a kilometre from the road, had been specifically targeted.
He said there was no known connection between the offenders and the victim.
“All we do know is that this is clearly a targeted attack to steal firearms,” Gill said.
Authorities had previously received a report about suspicious behaviour at the property on June 25, when the owner spotted and scared off three people.
Police believe a vehicle was used to ram a gate at the property before being dumped. A helicopter is assisting with the investigation.
Officers are also investigating a suspicious vehicle seen at the Triabunna Roadhouse around 8:15am today as part of the broader inquiry.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward, particularly anyone who may have seen the stolen Hilux.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously, quoting 810474.
