‘They believed these women might be alone’: men charged with assault and choking after Sydney home invasions

Three men have been detained after two women were allegedly assaulted during separate home invasions in Sydney’s south-west.

New South Wales police were first called to a home invasion in Arncliffe at about 12am on Tuesday morning.

Officers were told a group of men forced entry into the home and threatened a 31-year-old woman with a knife before sexually assaulting her and stealing money. The woman, who didn’t know the men, was taken to hospital with “minor injuries”, police said on Friday.

Officers separately responded to a reported home invasion at a unit in Bankstown at about 12.30am on Thursday morning.

Police were told three men allegedly forced entry into the unit before assaulting a 32-year-old woman and stealing money. The woman, who again didn’t know the men, was taken to hospital for treatment of “minor injuries”.

Detectives, supported by the riot squad, subsequently raided three properties in Belmore, Punchbowl and Greenacre at about 7.45pm on Thursday.

A 20-year-old man arrested in Belmore was charged with aggravated break and enter, depriving a person of their liberty, choking and common assault, along with other offences.

A 19-year-old man arrested in Punchbowl and charged with aggravated break and enter, choking and aggravated sexual assault, along with other offences.

An 18-year-old man arrested in Greenacre was charged with aggravated break and enter, choking and common assault, along with other offences.