Elderly woman robbed in her home

An elderly woman was robbed in her own home in Rochdale.

Just after 11pm on Thursday 14 October 2010, an 81-year-old woman was in bed at her home on Hartley Lane, Rochdale, when three masked men broke into her house.

The men smashed their way in through the back door, smashed an internal door and ransacked the lounge.

The men went upstairs and searched the bedrooms.

The woman got out of bed when they got to her room and one of the men swore at her and demanded money.

She told them she did not have any money because she's a pensioner and the man swore at her again, calling her a liar.

He raised the bat, threatened to hit her with it and demanded money again before pushing her over onto her bed.

The woman again said she had none and the robbers left the same way that had broken in.

The offenders are described as three white men, two tall, one short, all in black wearing full face balaclavas.

The woman has minor injuries to her hand and arm and an amount of jewellery and watches were stolen from her of great sentimental value.

Detective Constable John Schofield, based at Rochdale CID, said: "It never fails to disgust me that someone can be so cowardly as to break into the home of one of the older members of our community and treat them like this.

"We are working hard to find those responsible and ask that anyone who saw something that night or knows anything about this to contact us."

Anyone with information is asked to call police in Rochdale on 0161 856 8745 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.