Four men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas ransacked a home and threatened a woman in her 50s with a screwdriver.

Police are investigating the aggravated burglary which occurred in Chorleywood Road, Rickmansworth, at around 6pm on Friday.

They entered through the back of the property via the driveway and stole jewellery and cash.

The men are described as white, about 6 ft. tall, wearing black clothing, gloves and balaclavas, and one man was holding a pole.

DC Nicola Stewart from the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit said: “This incident has understandably left the victim, a woman in her 50s, quite shaken but luckily not physically hurt, and she is receiving specialist support.

“We are extremely keen to track down the men involved, and we have stepped up patrols in the area as a result.

“I want to reassure people that this appears to be a totally isolated incident and aggravated burglaries are very uncommon.”

Any witnesses or anyone with information should contact DC Stewart on nicola.stewart@herts.pnn.police.uk or the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 41/8258/19. You can also report information online at www.herts.police.uk/Report.