A family who fell victim to a violent New Year’s Eve home invasion in Queensland have broken their silence, telling 9News they are fed up and calling for change.
Mother Sarah Kelly described the moment a gun was held to her and her father’s heads before she was punched in the face and robbed.
She says a spate of more recent attacks have prompted her to tell her story.
Ms Kelly says her home has been the target of criminals on more than six occasions, leaving her feeling like a prisoner.
“We live basically on eggshells and we’re glued to the CCTV footage, any noise any noise, any bump in the night, we’re up,” she said.
The most significant was on New Year’s Eve, when cameras capture masked intruders breaking into her home.
Police believe they were armed with a tomahawk and guns.
Her father, Wayne Kelly, said they demanded money.
“Both holding a gun to my head demanding that ‘we know you’ve got the money, where’s your money’,” he said.
Ms Kelly said she and her father were forced into the main bedroom.
“They placed the gun on my forehead,” she said.
The intruders made off with thousands of dollars cash from a recently sold car.
The biggest loss was family heirlooms, including war medals belonging to Ms Kelly’s grandfather.
She said she has flashbacks.
“I can still see those two guys at the door with guns, it is terrifying still,” she said.
The mother has never shared the CCTV vision until today, fearing a revenge attack.
But when she was targeted again last week she said she had finally had enough.
“This is not just happening to me, this is happening to a lot of people, and you don’t get justice for yourself, so I want justice,” she said.
She says she was assaulted by members of a teenage gang, with her face punched, windows smashed and car beaten.
Ms Kelly says she has been targeted six times.
When she tried to catch them in the act, she said one of the teens turned his motorbike on her.
“They seen that I was recording and they went to come and grab my phone. As they went to grab my phone I pulled away and they hit me in the face. I called police.”
No charges have been laid.
“I’m sick and tired and I want something done,” she said.
