A couple were attacked and their house ransacked after a home invasion in the upmarket Auckland suburb of Herne Bay last night.

Police said the couple, who live in Seymour St, were confronted about 6pm and the man was injured before escaping with his partner.

The two offenders then ransacked the property.

A family living next door to the house said they had met the couple a number of times and had seen nothing out of the ordinary until yesterday.

The couple had been living there for almost a year.

One neighbour was playing with his young daughter when he heard a woman screaming "help me, help me".

Another said his partner saw the woman hanging out of a first floor window, from which she fell and was caught by a man. Two large men then came from the house and the apparent proprietor chased them up the street, his partner told him.

He said the neighbourhood had taken a turn for the worse since they moved in, with things going missing and "low lifes" showing up at all hours.

"It hasn't been comfortable since they arrived," he said.

Neighbours said around four police cars and 10 armed officers had arrived after the incident yesterday evening.

It is understood police are conducting a scene examination and have spoken to the victims.

- © Fairfax NZ News