A Melbourne father says he had a knife held to his throat when a gang of armed thugs smashed down his front door in a terrifying home invasion this morning.

"They were shouting and they started punching and kicking us … a few of them had a knife," he said.

"They were asking for money and car keys. We just gave it to them, everything that we had."

The offenders terrorised the family with knives and a taser, while they trashed the property. A laptop, two iPhones and a wallet with cash are among the items that were stolen in the invasion.

Five of the youths have been described as of African appearance with one described as being Middle Eastern in appearance.
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