A gang of six men smashed their way into a Templestowe home in the middle of the night armed with a tomahawk, leaving the family beaten and terrified.

The six masked men first attempted to get in through the rear window of the Templestowe home before smashing their way into the bedroom.

Felicity Peters was lying next to her husband when they were woken up by shouts and yells as their two sons ran from their rooms down the hall.

"We all got grabbed and thrown on the bed and had punches to the face," one son, Dean Peters, said.

View photos Thieves tried to break in through the back of the Templestowe home. Photo: 7 News More

View photos Dean Peters was attacked by the home invaders. Photo: 7 News More

Dean was hit with a weapon believed to be a tomahawk.

"They were bashing him on the head," Felicity said. "I saw the blood running down his face and I said, 'just take what you want, leave my family and get out'."

Felicity bravely ran to call 000 from the home phone but was chased.

View photos Blood stains where Dean Peters was hit on the head. Photo: 7 News More

"One followed me down and pushed me aside and pulled the phone out of my hands", she said.

She rushed back to the bedroom and hid in the ensuite as the intruders demanded cash.

The family handed over the only money they had, which was just $10. The thieves also stole an Xbox and a mobile phone, but left behind a $60,000 Mustang - the car keys were sitting on the bedside table.

View photos The thieves left behind this $60,000 Mustang. Photo: 7 News More

The thugs then ran away through a reserve at the back of the property.

Felicity says she has no idea why the family was targeted but is thankful her sons were on hand to fight off the brutal attackers.

'I'm very proud of them - I just didn't want them to be hurt," she said.