Five arrests after Gloucester aggravated burglary
Five people have been arrested after burglars broke into a house reportedly wielding bottles, an axe and a hammer.
Police said the intruders charged through the back door of the communal property in Barton Street, Gloucester.
They then used violence and intimidation on the four occupants.
A 37-year-old man needed hospital treatment after two of his teeth were knocked out while another man suffered a cut to the back of his neck.
Police were called to the house just after 23:50 GMT on Wednesday.
Two women aged 18 and 27, from Gloucester, an 18-year-old man also from the city, a 31-year-old London man and a 19-year-old Stroud man were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
They are in police custody.
Two phones believed to have been stolen in the burglary were seized by police in the early hours of Thursday.
Det Insp Steve Bean said: "We believe that the offenders may have been targeting one person in the property but obviously ended up terrorising everyone who was there.
"This was an appalling act by people who were quite clearly prepared to use violence to get what they wanted.
"If you witnessed this disturbance or suspicious activity nearby I would urge you to get in contact straight away."