Detectives investigating an armed home invasion have ruled out links to suspected gang-related violent crime in the same area of Ipswich.

At least two of four men wanted for breaking into an address in Nacton Road, armed with knives, may have been drunk at the time of the robbery, which could also have been intended on a different property.

The victims – a family of four – moved into the address between Queen’s Way and Nacton Crescent only a month before the raid happened, shortly after 1am on Sunday morning, as four men forced their way inside and threatened the occupants with knives, before leaving with cash, jewellery and mobile phones.

Two were punched during the robbery – and all were left badly shaken, but able to describe the suspects as three mixed-race men and one white man with eastern European accents.

Detective Inspector Dan Connick said: “We’re keeping an open mind but are not linking this to any other particular incident or series of incidents at the moment.

“Fortunately, this sort of thing takes infrequently in our area.

“Two of the witnesses said two of the offenders appeared to be drunk, due to the smell of alcohol and their slurred speech.

“Although we have seen incidents involving organised crime groups from Kent and Essex, the fact that two of these men appeared drunk does not point to that type of crime, but we have liaised with our regional colleagues.

“As the family had been living there for only a month, we have been carrying out enquiries around previous occupants. They may have targeted the wrong address or not realised other people had moved in.”

Police are optimistic about matching forensic evidence left at the scene to those responsible.

Late-night mobile patrols have been taking place in the area of Nacton Road – close to where Tavis Spencer-Aitkens was killed by a knife wound in Packard Avenue on June 2 – but police are not linking the incidents.

Det Insp Connick said the robbers knocked the door before storming inside the property.

“We’d like to remind people to use things like spy holes and door chains if they receive an unexpected knock at the door – and in an emergency, dial 999,” he added.

If you can help police with the investigation, call 101.