Elderly shopkeeper threatened in Heywood raid

CCTV still showing one of the masked robbers armed with a crook lock.

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

An elderly shopkeeper and two shoppers, including a 12-year old girl, endured a horrifying ordeal when three masked robbers threatened them during a raid on Friday evening (6 March).

The shopkeeper, in her 70s, was left terrified after the men, armed with sticks and a crook lock, lept over the counter of Connell's Newsagents on Benfield Street and stole cigarettes and the till, which contained a hundreds of pounds. 

The two shoppers, a woman and a 12-year-old girl, were pushed into a corner.

The women and young girl were not injured but were left very shaken up.
 
The gang made off in a blue hatchback car towards Hind Hill Street at 7.30pm.

Two of the men were 6ft tall and of slim build.

The offenders left a duvet cover at the scene with a yellow laundry ticket - serial number 5643 - attached to it and police are appealing to any businesses who supply these tickets to come forward and help trace the culprits.

Detectives in Rochdale have also released CCTV stills of the offenders who are wanted in connection with the incident.

Detective Constable Julian Peach, from Rochdale CID, said: "The offenders have left behind what could be a vital clue. I would urge any businesses who supply these sorts of laundry tickets to call us as the information they have could be the key to finding out who these men are.

"We are looking for an opportunistic gang of men who seemingly have no qualms about threatening women with weapons. These cowards need to be caught and I would appeal to anyone who has information - or recognises any of the men in the CCTV images - to come forward."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.