The owner of four supermarkets in Albufeira was attacked and badly beaten up by a gang of four as he was about to enter his home in São Rafael last week.
Inside the house, the gang tied his hands and feet with belts and carried out a violent attack to force the victim to reveal the pin code for bank cards they stole along with various gold items and money.
But the four men believed that their victim, of Portuguese nationality, had a safe hidden in the house containing a large amount of the daily takings from his supermarkets, and persisted with their assault.
The businessman sustained facial injuries and severe bruises to the body and had to receive hospital treatment.
The thieves, who searched the house without success for a safe, fled with the loot already stolen.
The incident is under investigation by Albufeira GNR.
