<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An innocent </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> family has had to cower in their home as a gang of thugs tried to smash through their house in what </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/police" rel="" target="" title="police"><span>police</span></a><span> say was a case of mistaken identity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The gang used machetes, a baseball bat and a gun to try to break into a home in Pakenham about 4am on February 23, where a three-year-old girl and a six-year-old girl were among the residents sleeping.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Confronting footage shows the group smashing windows and trying to break the door down.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-terror-threat-level-iran-israel-strikes-what-is-it-explained/1db2a65a-4a28-4fa3-aee9-417c1e0d75de" target="_blank"><strong><span>How Australia is responding to the US-Israel strikes on Iran and unrest in the Middle East</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When they couldn't get into the home, they turned their attention to the resident's vehicles before fleeing the scene.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Twenty minutes later, the group targeted a home in Lynbrook before breaking into another in Bellfield where a 20-year-old resident was injured.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9News understands the homes may have been attacked in retaliation for a stabbing in Collingwood which left two youths seriously wounded.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/innocent-young-family-targeted-in-mistaken-identity-home-invasion/b2aa5220-19b2-450e-961a-331ad92f8f53" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Detective Inspector Mark Patrick described the incident as a "vicious attack on innocent individuals".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are certainly looking at that angle, gang activity, paybacks," Patrick said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/potts-point-man-shot-by-police-in-inner-sydney-after-reports-of-women-being-assaulted/88618241-b8a9-42ad-b3ab-120098539c2a" target="_blank"><strong><span>Armed man shot dead by police in inner Sydney after 'attacking two women'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The group is believed to have continued their crime spree in Clyde North yesterday afternoon, where they broke into a home about 1pm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thousands of dollars worth of luxury items, including handbags, wallets, watches and a robe, were stolen from the home, with the group later boasting about their loot in a series of posts on social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three men were arrested last night after detectives swooped on a home on Shafer Circuit in Endeavor Hills.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 22-year-old homeless man, 18-year-old Frankston man and 23-year old Frankston man were arrested.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Charges are expected to be laid.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> 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