Woman robbed at knifepoint

Four men robbed a homeowner at knifepoint in Rochdale.

Just after 10.45am on Monday 27 June 2011, the men opened the gate to the back garden of the home on John Roberts Close and opened the back door.

The 53-year-old victim was in the upstairs hallway when one of the men threatened her with a knife and demanded money.

She was punched in the face, fracturing her eye-socket, before the men searched her house, stealing a mobile phone. Her 20-year-old son was also punched to the face.

They then left, jumping over a fence onto Mulberry Close and onto Elm Grove where a fifth man was waiting in a blue Ford Focus. They drove off in the direction of Tweedale Street.

Two of the men are described as being mixed race, of slim build, in their late teens and early 20s and between 5ft 10in and 6ft 2in tall.

The first offender had short shaved black hair and bushy eyebrows. He wore a black hooded tracksuit top with white lines, Nike golf gloves and dark tracksuit pants. He spoke with a local accent.

The second man had a long thin face with thin sideburns. He wore a navy blue top with a red line across the chest and black tracksuit pants tucked into his socks. He wore a blue baseball cap with red peak, black trainers and spoke with a deep local accent.

Detective Constable Sam Taylor from Middleton CID said: “I would reassure members of the community we are working very hard to find those responsible and would urge anyone who may know the men or the vehicle driving off to contact us.

“Both victims have been left traumatised by their ordeal but have helped us by producing detailed descriptions of the offenders.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 4622 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.