Police are investigating a string of terrifying early evening attacks, where raiders have burst into occupied houses and demanded property from families.

On Thursday night four men kicked open a front door of a home in Woodfield Road, Penn, Wolverhampton, and threatened two boys aged 13 and 15.

Last month men took a woman and her 13-year-old daughter hostage while they stole belongings.

The offenders from Thursday's raid took jewellery, a lap top computer and a Playstation. They carried the goods in carrier bags and ran off towards Penn Road.

The boys were alone in the house but not physically hurt, and police were called by a member of the public.

The offenders are described as being four young men who were wearing dark clothing, with their faces covered. One was reported to be wearing a black jacket similar to an Arsenal Football Club official coat.

On November 18, a masked gang armed with a hand gun burst into a home in Pendeford, Wolverhampton, and took her and her 13-year-old daughter hostage while they stole her belongings.

The woman was settling down to watch X Factor with her children and niece when the attackers stormed into her home.

The woman was preparing a Chinese takeaway for her family when the gang of four, all wearing motorcycle helmets, burst in.

Shouting and brandishing at least one gun, they demanded all the money and valuables.

The woman said: "One of them held a gun to my 24-year-old son’s head.

"Another held my 13-year-old daughter and my niece and their friend, who was staying with us, hostage in the living room.

"We gave them what we could but they said it wasn’t enough and screamed at us to give them more. My son handed over his wallet and I gave them by bank cards."

In nearby Staffordshire there have also been a series of raids bearing similar hallmarks.

At about 5.45pm on Thursday four offenders broke into a home in Overwood Road, Tamworth, through the door and a window, and forced the 81-year-old occupant to stay in living room while they searched the property. They made off with his commemorative medals.

On Thursday at 9pm four men kicked their way into house in Newbury road, Cannock, where a woman was home alone. The raiders demanded keys to a blue BMW X5 parked outside. They made off along Brownills road towards the West Midlands.

Neither victims were hurt, but both were left shocked and distressed by what had happened.

DCI Mark Salt, from Bilston Street police station in Wolverhampton, said it was not known whether the raids were linked.

"It's fair to say that over recent months what I would regard as a small spate of these type of incidents whereby people have entered other people's houses with varying degrees of violence," he said.

"They have taken place in a variety of places within the Wolverhampton area, and I would suggest there are issues around the Staffordshire area as well.

"This type of crime is not as prevalent as people think they are. It is frightening for people who are victims, but there are not that many of them."

Anyone with information is asked to call officers on 0845 113 5000.

emma_pinch@mrn.co.uk