![](https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/04/12/10/John-Hart7658.jpg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=1024)
![WEST END FINAL](/img/newsletters/newsletter_we_final_embed_desktop.png)
A grandfather was “rugby tackled” and beaten by three masked burglars who raided his east London home.
John Hart, 61, had just returned to the house in Hornchurch when a man burst in and pushed him to the floor, demanding the location and code of his safe. Two others, armed with a crowbar, repeatedly struck Mr Hart over the head.
The former Disney network analyst told the Standard: “I heard a noise so I went to open the door and this big guy ran in and rugby tackled me … He kept shouting, ‘I’m going to stab you’ … I tried shouting for help but the guy put his hand over my mouth.”
Mr Hart, who was left with a cracked rib, refused to hand over the code but the burglars ripped the safe out. It contained up to £2,000 in cash and “irreplaceable” jewellery.
Police were called to the scene on April 5. There have been no arrests.