Three men have been given a total of 30 years in prison after a violent burglary in which the victims were tied up and beaten in their own home.

Idir Brahimi and Amar Brahimi, 23 and 21, from Greenside Road, Broad Green, and Marvin Masangomai, from Fairchildes Avenue, New Addington, were all sentenced to 10 years by Croydon Crown Court.

The trio stole several smart phones, a laptop, two tablet computers, and wallets with bank cards and £460 in cash.

At just after midnight on April 18 they got into a house in Thornton Heath through an open window while a family was inside.

One was tied up while another was punched and kicked and another victim saw the men were armed with a knife and a wooden pole.

The suspects escaped through the back door of the house but some of the victims gave chase.

They were spotted getting into a car that was parked in nearby Lyndhurst Road. One of the victims made a note of the car number plate and reported it to police immediately.

At 12.39am police were called to Attlee Close by members of the public who described seeing a number of men jumping over fences and hiding a bag in a bush.

Croydon police officers stopped three men who matched the description of the burglars and the bag was recovered containing the stolen property.

They were arrested, later charged, and were found guilty by the court on Monday, October 7.

Detective Sergeant Andy Pike, the investigating officer, said: "I'd like to thank all those members of the public, whose quick thinking and public spirit led officers to make really swift arrests in this case.

"This was an organised gang who broke into the house, without knowing if anyone was at home or not.

"When they did come across the victims they were more than willing to use violence and threats to subdue and scare them.

"They stole a huge amount of property during this short and targeted burglary, moving quickly from room to room.

"Burglary is a really distressing crime, losing valuables and items of huge sentimental value from your own home can have a devastating effect.

"In this case these men are now in prison for 10 years each."