A CRAVEN gang of five people wearing balaclavas tried to force their way into a home in Frith End – but ran away after being told to leave by the house’s occupants.

The troubling incident took place at The Kilns, in broad daylight at around 6.30pm on Sunday, May 10, and was captured on CCTV (pictured right) which was later shared online.

All five perpetrators were dressed in dark clothes, and broke a window before attempting to smash in the couple’s front door.

The masked thugs were reportedly thwarted though when the determined home owners pushed against the door from the other side, and told them to go.

According to police, the bungling burglars arrived and left in a grey Audi A4 or A6 and made off in the same vehicle, which was driven by a sixth person.

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: “This was obviously a very distressing incident for the victims and we would urge anyone with any information about the incident to contact us as soon as possible on 101 quoting incident number: 44200165566.”

It comes just weeks after thieves made off with two beloved family pets – four-year-old cocker spaniel bitches Skyla and Lady – as well as a quad bike, tools and farm machinery in a 2am raid on a home in nearby Binsted.

The home owner pursued the thieves, but they escaped.