Lower Hutt police are investigating what they call a brutal assault on an elderly man in his home in Wainuiomata.
Detective Sergeant Mike Sears says the 82-year-old answered a knock on the door of his house in Norfolk Street shortly before 8pm on Tuesday.
Mr Sears says the man was confronted by two teenagers who asked to speak to a person known to the victim.
The man was then pushed to the ground and hit over the head with a wooden baton.
Mr Sears says the pair demanded cash, then made a messy search of the house before leaving with some money.
The victim has bad bruising to his face and body.
The offenders are described as 15- to 16-year-olds. One of them was wearing one black and one white sports shoe.
