A Devonshire street was sealed by Police for more than four hours late last night after an armed burglary which left a man in hospital.

Officers swooped on Upland Street just after 11 p.m. and were still scouring the area at 3.30 a.m. today, when detectives in white forensic suits used torches to look for evidence at a home which appeared to have blood smeared across the glass front door.

A lengthy search for the culprits – during which Police asked reporters gathered on Middle Road close to the scene not to release any information to the public – was unsuccessful.

Brief details of what happened were given to the media by a Police spokesman at 3.10 a.m. He said: “On Sunday, July 18, 2010, Police responded to a home invasion at a residence on Upland Street in Devonshire.

“It appears that armed men gained entry into the residence and robbed the occupants. Police attended the area and conducted a search at the residence and surrounding areas for the suspects, with negative results.

“Police can confirm that one of the occupants did receive injuries as a result of being assaulted.”

The spokesman could not provide the victim’s age or details of how he was attacked, other than to say that he was not shot.

The man was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital with injuries which were not believed to be life threatening. The spokesman would not reveal the number of assailants or the type of weapons they were carrying.

Armed officers guarded the entrances to Upland Street – on Middle Road and at Watlington Road East – while Police conducted the manhunt. Several residents in cars who tried to turn into Upland Street to go home were barred from entering.

One man waiting to be allowed to return to his wife and three-year-old child said it was a “bit shocking” to see so much Police activity.

“It’s always been a safe place,” he said. “This road is very quiet. You typically know everyone who is walking around. It’s mostly families and quite a lot of older people.”

Meanwhile, a deployment of uniformed officers, also armed, waited nearby on grassland between Howard’s Minimart and the BS&R Group carpentry and antique restoration workshop. Initially there were ten male and female officers gathered there and about six more arrived at 2 a.m.

Just before 2.30 a.m. they began to get back into their vehicles, including two Police vans. At 2.48 a.m. five Police vehicles coming from the direction of town turned into Upland Street. At 3.15 a.m. residents and reporters were told they could enter the pitch-black road, as the officers on Middle Road gathered for a debriefing.

Almost every home was shrouded in darkness, except the property where officers were still searching for clues. Police are appealing for witnesses to call them on 295-0011 or on the confidential Crimestoppers number or the confidential crime stoppers on 800 8477.

Read tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette for more on this story.