Detectives are on the hunt after a "violent" robbery in which a man was attacked with a machete in East Kilbride.

Around 4am on Saturday, April 14, a 55 year old man was assaulted when he, his 56 year old wife and their 26 year old son, were confronted by four men who had broken in to their home in Castlehill Farm in the Kittochside area.

They were held in a bedroom upstairs whilst the suspects ransacked the property, taking a sum of cash, jewellery, car keys and the family’s black Range Rover.

The thugs' getaway car, a Nissan Qashqai, was found burnt out on Tuesday.

Read more: Cumbernauld tot faces £10k legal fees to have wrongly rehomed pet cat returned

The injured victim was taken by ambulance to Hairmyres Hospital where he was treated for a leg injury and has since been released.

The suspects are described as white, with local accents and wearing dark clothing and scarves/balaclavas covering their faces. One of them was in in his early 20s and had on a grey hoodie with the hood covering his face.

Detective Inspector Susie Cairns, Cambuslang CID, said: “The suspects, along with a fifth man who was waiting outside in a black Nissan Qashqai, fled the house in the two cars along Carmunnock bypass and then towards Croftfoot Road and Blairbeth Road, before abandoning the Range Rover in the Mount Vernon area.

“A black Nissan Qashqai was recovered burnt out in Kirkton Place, Blantyre, around 1.45 am on Tuesday morning.

Glasgow Times:

The site where the car was found burnt out

“We know from our enquiries that the men involved had been in the Kittochside area for at least two hours prior to the robbery, so are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen anyone or vehicles hanging about from 2am onward."

However, this is not the only robbery the suspects may have taken part in this month.

DI Cairns added: “The robbery was violent and the men had absolutely no regard for anyone in the house. It was a horrible and very frightening experience for the family who genuinely feared for the life throughout the ordeal.

Read more: Paige Doherty's mum pays emotional musical tribute

“We are also looking into the possibility that the same men were responsible for a further robbery resulting in the theft of a VW Golf from outside a hotel near to Bellziehill Roundabout, Bellshill, around 10.30pm on Friday, April 13. A black Nissan Qashqai is also thought to have been involved in this incident.

“If you have any information, including dashcam footage of the car in either Kittochside, Bellshill or Blantyre that may assist our investigation, then please contact Cambuslang CID via 101.

"Alternatively, you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.”