A REWARD of up to £5,000 is on offer to anyone who can provide information on a gang of masked burglars who broke into an elderly couple’s home in Cwmbran.

Crimestoppers have joined Gwent Police in appealing for details on the incident, which occurred in Croesyceiliog on Thursday, November 16 at around 8pm.

The couple, Bill and Barbara Thomas, were were eating dinner in the kitchen of their home when around five men broke in through a side window and demanded money, threatening them with weapons.

After threatening to shoot Mr Thomas and take his wife away, they attacked him with a hammer and screwdriver.

The raiders trashed the house and stole a “significant” amount of cash, before making off towards the M4 eastbound in a blue Audi with tinted windows.

“The five masked men broke in when we were having our tea,” said Mr Thomas, who has lived in the home for around 30 years.

“They were looking for money. They threatened us and then attacked me with a hammer on my shoulder and they attacked me several times with a large screwdriver.

“They then generally terrorised us and threatened us.”

Mr Thomas was left with bruising to his eye and shoulder and received treatment at Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.

“They did not hit my wife but they threatened her,” he said.

“They said they were going to take her away and that they were going to shoot me.

“I said ‘go on, then’ and one of the men hit me on the arm with a screwdriver.”

Mr Thomas said every room in the house was left “trashed” by the masked gang.

The culprits all had their faces covered and were wearing dark clothing however one of the men wore a navy jacket with a distinctive silver or white letter ‘W’ on the chest.

Ella Rabaiotti, the manager of Crimestoppers Wales, said: “The victims have gone through a truly terrifying ordeal in the one place that they should be allowed to feel safe – their home.

“I cannot imagine the fear they must have had and I would ask that anyone who might have information on the group responsible for this crime to contact us anonymously.

“We won’t judge, ask any of your personal details or make you speak to anyone other than ourselves. We’ll take your information and pass it onto the police, and then you’re done.”

The reward can only be handed over if the information leads to an arrest or a conviction, and only details passed to the charity will qualify.

Gwent Police's detective inspector Bob Toghill said: “This was a particularly nasty incident where people were threatened in their own home which has left them understandably very shaken.

“We are investigating this incident and are urging anyone who may have seen this vehicle or the offenders to contact us.”

Anyone with information should call the police on 101, quoting log 494 16/11/17, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.