Police are searching for a hammer-wielding man who allegedly broke into a woman’s East Side Alice Springs home around midnight and threatened her in her bedroom, demanding keys before stealing cash and her phone.

Police said in a statement that the man had broken into the Winnecke Avenue home through the front door and searched the premises before entering the bedroom of the 66-year-old female resident where he threatened the woman with the hammer, “demanding she hand over her car keys and a key card”.

“The offender subsequently stole a quantity of cash and the victim’s mobile phone before fleeing the scene,” police media director Mark Wilton said in a statement.

“Members from Strike Force Viper and general duties initially attended the residence and a crime scene was declared.”

Mr Wilton said police do not believe the incident is connected to another violent home invasion on Sunday morning, in which three men allegedly used an axe to break into another East Side home where they allegedly struck a woman in the head with a baton and stole her jewellery and money.

Police are still calling for information in connection to that incident as well.

No description was provided of the man wielding the hammer in the latest home invasion.

Mr Wilton said anyone with information “particularly if you have dash-cam footage, [should] make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference P24103632”.