An elderly couple were sprayed in the face with fire extinguishers when their home was raided by a gang of masked men, police said.
Cops said a group of three or four suspects, who wore gloves and had their faces covered, made off with a small amount of cash after the "despicable" attack.
They targeted the house in Hornchurch, east London, between 8.30pm and 9pm on Saturday, entering through the back door. The burglars let off fire extinguishers in the faces of the pensioners, and also cutting the man's hand with a weapon, thought to be a screwdriver.
He was later taken to hospital as a precaution. The woman, who was not injured, was pushed to the floor and forced to stay behind a chair as her partner was asked about money in the house.
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