A FATHER has spoken of the terrifying moment he thought he would be shot in front of his wife and children.
The Newchapel father-of-two made an emotional plea for information after his family were held at gunpoint and their East Park Lane house was ransacked of valuables by armed men on June 12.
On Wednesday last week John, the dad of the family, told BBC Crimewatch viewers about the terrifying ordeal.
John, his wife Tracy and their two teenage daughters were petrified when the gang of up to eight raiders burst into their home at about 3am. John awoke to find a man with a shotgun standing over him.
Speaking on the show, he said: "I am lying there thinking that I do not want to die. I thought something bad was going to happen."
John was then dragged from his bed and a gunman demanded cash and valuables from the family's safe. He handed over up to £10,000 in cash and jewellery, which the robbers put into a Louis Vuitton handbag.
He said: "These people are targeting people like us, working people, and think they can come and help themselves to what we have worked for. They've got no respect. We wanted the best and safest area for the girls and that's why we chose this area."
During the raid John's teenage daughters were tied up with dressing gown belts and dragged into their parents' bedroom to sit next to their mother, Tracy.
John was held face down on a bed, with a pillow over his head and a gun pointing at him. He said: "What I feel about what the girls went through is hard to explain. It hurts for a dad. It feels as if they have cut out me open and ripped out my heart."
The main electric-gated entrance to the property remained locked all night, and police have said the most likely escape route for the robbers was through a field, which would lead to West Park Road or to Bones Lane.
The offenders are described as men aged between 18 and 25, between 5ft 8in and 6ft 3in, and all dressed in black. They wore orange workmen's gloves, balaclavas and white dust masks. Security has since been increased at the property.
Investigating officer Det Insp Antony Archibald said: "It was a horrendous ordeal. John really thought he was going to be shot dead in front of his wife and daughters."
After the BBC One show, there were about 40 calls from viewers with information relating to the incident. A £5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to a prosecution.
Anyone with information on the burglary should contact East Surrey CID on 01483 637211.
