Children 'traumatised' after thieves break into Melbourne home through doggy door

A family in Melbourne's inner east has been left "traumatised" after two brazen thieves broke into their home yesterday through the doggy door.

Kat and Ben Mansfield were woken by their dogs barking about 3.15am in Armadale, only to discover their blue Maserati along with personal items were stolen.

The parents said they were sickened to discover the thieves had entered the home on Alleyne Avenue by using the doggy door while they and their children slept.

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Ms Mansfield said she felt "violated" knowing two unknown people were inside her house.

"It's absolutely traumatising," she told reporters outside her home today.

"I don't believe it, I woke up and was in a bit of a daze and the gate was open and the car was gone," she said.

"It's the sickest and most violating part (knowing they were inside) because that's the sort of stuff that will stay with you for the rest of your life."

She said her youngest son, who is seven, had been left so scared that he didn't want to take off his taekwondo medal - his most "prized possession".

"The kids are terrified, my youngest was scared to sleep in his room last night. He is walking around with his taekwondo medal around his neck because he is scared that it will go missing when he goes to school.

"This is going to stay with them forever."

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Mr Mansfield described the crime as "brazen" and called on the police and politicians to do more when it comes to youth crime.

"They seemed so comfortable in what they were doing and had no issues coming to the house," he said.

"It's completely brazen, (there's) absolutely no regard, they walked past our children's bedrooms. If our dogs didn't bark, there may have been a worse incident that took place.

"We are all pretty shaken up."

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The father of two said it was time to start taking action against this type of offending.

"It's time to move beyond talking and take some action," he said.

"We need to actually change the system."

Police are investigating the incident and said the offenders fled in the blue Maserati with the registration CDK439.