Gang terror in English Suburbs

Gang terror in suburbs
Paul Britton
10/12/2008

GANGS of violent armed robbers are bringing terror to Manchester's suburbs. Raiders carrying frightening weapons have struck twice at homes in north Manchester this week.

Police sources said there had been around five other attacks in recent months. A source at North Manchester General hospital said they were dealing with an increasing number of householders being attacked in their homes.

In the latest incident three masked thugs, armed with a pickaxe, an axe, and a baseball bat, burst into a couple's home on Bury Old Road, Prestwich and demanded cash.

Cadillac

A 61-year-old man was struck in the back with the axe blade after his wife, also 61, was attacked in the kitchen as she dialled 999. It is the second time that the couple have been attacked in the last seven months.

The robbery came less than an hour after five masked raiders armed with an axe threatened a couple inside their home in nearby Kibworth Close, Whitefield, and stole their Cadillac car, which was later found abandoned on nearby Ringley Drive.

Detectives were today investigating whether the robberies are linked.

It is understood there has been a spate of similar robberies in the area recently, but Greater Manchester Police say they are unable to give break down figures for domestic armed robberies in the Bury area for the last six months. They said the only way to get those figures would be by making a request through Freedom of Information legislation.

In the latest incident, the woman was in the kitchen when the three men kicked their way in through the front door at 8.50pm on Monday. She managed to activate a panic alarm despite one of the robbers trying to smash it with the bat. She then tried to dial 999 but the robber grabbed the phone out of her hand and shoved her to the ground.

She managed to get her mobile and call police after running into the back garden. Her husband, who was upstairs at the time, was confronted by the axeman on the stairs. It is believed that he wrestled with the robber before he was struck.

The gang fled with a small amount of cash. The man needed stitches at North Manchester General Hospital and was left bruised. His wife was also badly bruised.

Violence

In the previous attack the couple were confronted by thugs trying to steal their car as they arrived home. The man was attacked and suffered minor injuries.

Det Insp John Mazzolai, of Bury CID, said: "Far from representing an increase in this particular type of robbery, the level of violence used in these robberies was unusual.

"It is extremely uncommon for robbers to attack householders with axes and we can reassure residents that we take this extremely seriously.

"It is a possibility that the two robberies are linked and we are attempting to establish if this is the case. There tends to be an increase in robberies of all kinds in the run up to Christmas, but that is nothing specific to Bury.

"We continue to ask residents to remain vigilant."

Any witnesses should call police on 0161 856 1157 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.