To the 4 cowards that violently invaded our home, here’s what I want you to know

My husband and I were woken to the sound of our dog barking - It was a bark unlike any I’ve heard before. My husband immediately jumped up to investigate as I sleepily rolled over to check the time, it was 3.45am. As he left the room, my stomach dropped...I could sense something wasn’t right, I managed to roll my 9 month pregnant body over to sit up and throw my gown on. I stood up from the side of the bed to hear my husbands voice tremor as he called out, “Mate, what are you doing?! We’ve got little kids in the house” at that moment I heard the first blow to our front door. My blood ran cold, I felt numb, my limbs were heavy and my mouth was dry. I immediately grabbed my phone and fumbled it as I attempted to unlock it to call the police, my husband was doing the same, we ran into each other and dropped our phones. The blows to the front door continued as we ran to get the children I scooped up my 2 year old and grabbed my 4 year old by the wrist as I stumbled my way into the laundry. My husband right behind me. He put the ironing board up against the door and his weight against the door as he continued the phone call with the police. There was a deafening silence as the blows came to and end. Time stood still, my heart froze. They were in the house, my husbands voice turned to a whisper as he said “please hurry, they’re in my house they have weapons and we’re hiding with our children” he hung up the phone as we heard drawers being pulled apart, doors slamming I stood, holding my son with my daughter clutching my thigh and one hand on the external laundry door. We could hear them making their way down the hall, room after room. In my mind I had made the decision if they attempted to get in to the laundry I would run. I heard them open the bathroom door (opposite the laundry) and I knew our door was next. The handle turned as my husband held it closed. Then came an enormous blow. The door swung open and slammed shut as my husband tried to restrain him. At that point I made the decision to leave the house. The safety of my children was my main concern and the fact they had been so aggressive cemented my decision. I turned the handle and ran as fast as I could, 9 months pregnant dragging my 4 year old and carrying my two year old son. I got to the gate at the side of our house and fumbled it open. We bolted off the driveway and up the road as I saw a man out the corner of my eye. I continued on up the street, my legs felt dead, I could barely run. It was as if I were in a dream and couldn’t run. I heard the words “don’t you run miss, or I’ll shoot you.” My heart pounded as I slipped on the grass I fell on my pregnant belly, I got back to my feet and screamed for my daughter to grab my hand again, I screamed for help, I begged but nobody came (I was later informed numerous neighbours were hiding and watching but we’re too afraid to help) I scrambled my way to the nearest house with a car in the driveway not knowing if we were being followed. I began banging frantically on the door, screaming. “Please, let me in... he has a gun. I’ve got two small children. Please!” Lights came on but the resident didn’t open “who are you? What do you want?” I screamed again banging furiously. Please just let me in. She reluctantly turned the handle and I bowled her out of the way running as far into her house as I could. I fell down and hugged my children, breathing, crying. They were shaking but we were all unharmed.. I sat on her lounge in shock holding my children, I finally received a text from Luke asking where we were, I explained we were at the neighbors, he told me to wait there, they’d taken the car and wallets and left. The police arrived shortly after to the house we were waiting at with Luke. We were met on the street with about 8 Police Officers asking questions, my head felt heavy, everything still seemed like a dream. The officers indicated they were pretty confident they knew who it would be as a similar crime had recently been committed with a luxury vehicle stolen. I noticed Luke’s face, he had been hit. When he realised we’d left the laundry he panicked and opened the door to ensure they didn’t chase after us, which resulted in him being hit in the face breaking  his jaw when another found the keys and all scrambled to the front door and got in his company car to leave. To the criminals that violently invaded our home, here’s what I want you to know.... I hate you. I hate you all for what you’ve done to us. I hate that I feel afraid to stay in my own home, a home we worked so hard to buy. I hate that we’re paying a mortgage and living with my parents because of you. I hate that at 9 months pregnant my biggest concern wasn’t delivering a healthy baby it was running up the street screaming for help and keeping my two other children alive while you threatened our lives with a gun. I hate that you’ve taken from me the basic right to feel safe in my own home. I hate that I spend my days jumping at my own shadow, checking over my shoulder and ushering the kids into our car every time I notice something mildly suspicious. I hate that my 4 year old asks if the bad men are back every time she hears a loud bang. I hate that you’re still living and will feel safe and protected in prison with play stations and 3 meals per day. I hate that you wouldn’t give us a second thought, that your life will go on after this punishment, taking drugs and planning your next attack, probably laughing at the threats you made and how proud you were to have taken the car. I want you to know how weak you are. You’re cowards, you terrorized our family for your own enjoyment, a game. I wonder how the story goes that you tell? Are your friends impressed when you tell them you smashed a mans face in who was hiding with his pregnant wife and two small children? Do they think you’re tough for threatening a 9 month pregnant woman crying, carrying her two children begging for help? Is that what tough is? My greatest hope is that you experience the fear my family did. I hope you’re left begging and screaming to stay alive... something I genuinely don’t believe you deserve.