Car buyers threatened at gunpoint

Car buyers threatened at gunpoint

Police are hunting a man who threatened eBay customers with a shotgun when they turned up to view a car that had been advertised.

One of the victims spotted the BMW on the internet selling site and arranged to view the car on Sykes Street, Newhey.

When he arrived with a friend at 3.30pm on Monday 10 January 2011, the ‘seller’ donned a balaclava and threatened them with a shotgun.

He demanded they handed over the cash they came with to buy the car. They explained they hadn’t brought any money so he told them to get out of their van.

At this point the victims ran off, abandoning their van, which was later recovered.

The victims were uninjured but shocked by their ordeal.

Detective Constable Sam Taylor, of Rochdale CID, said: “The victims appear to have been set up by the offender.

“They arrived hoping to view a car for sale and got threatened at gunpoint instead. Thankfully, they had the wherewithal not to take cash to the scene.

“I now want to hear from anyone in the Sykes Street area who saw someone acting suspiciously, or if they have expressed interest in the same car, to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Rochdale CID on 0161 856 4646 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.