A MAN suffered burns to his chest, stomach and arms after being kidnapped at knifepoint and driven to a house.

Police say a man was parked in a silver Mercedes in Bell Close at 3.15pm on Monday when two men got into the car and threatened him with a knife.

After forcing the victim, a man in his 50s, into the back of the car they drove him to a terraced house.

The man was then blindfolded and asked for money. He suffered burns to his abdomen and is in hospital receiving treatment.

During the ordeal, the victim gave his attackers his address in Cemetery Road and when he was released he discovered his home had been burgled.

It isn’t yet known how long the victim was held at the terraced house, or where in the town he was taken. Officers said that eventually the victim was given his car keys and allowed to leave.

Police conducted door to door enquiries in Bell Close, asking residents if they saw anything from their kitchen windows, which overlook the car park.

One resident, who asked not to be named, described the incident as “unnerving”.

Another said: “I don’t think people should worry about it too much. I think seven or eight years ago this area was bad for things like that happening but it has changed a bit recently.

“There are issues in the area with drugs and things but this seems to me like it is more of a targeted attack.”

A woman, who cuts through Bell Close daily on her way home, said: “I have known things to happen in this area because unfortunately it’s not the greatest part of town, but you have to get on with things and try not to worry about it.”

A spokesman for Suffolk police said they were looking for three black men and two white women in connection with the incident.

Officers were due to interview the victim again last night to try and establish where the house was and how long the he had been kept there.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ipswich CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.