Robbery at Middleton pub on Boxing Day

Police are appealing for witnesses after a pub was robbed on Boxing Day.

At around 11.20pm on Monday 26 December,  staff at The Roebuck pub on Middleton Gardens were closing up for the night, when two men burst in through the back door.

The men were armed with crow bars and demanded money from one of the female members of staff.

They stole cash and then made off via the rear door onto Factory Road.

Both men are described as white, in their late teens or early twenties. They were of slim build and around 5ft 6in tall.

One was wearing light grey Adidas tracksuit bottoms with coloured stripes down the legs, a black Adidas top with the hood up and a pale blue scarf across his face.

The second man was wearing black Adidas tracksuit bottoms with coloured stripes down the legs and a black Adidas top. He also wore a pale blue scarf across his face. Both men spoke with Manchester accents.  

Detective Constable Amie Darnell from Rochdale CID said: “Although the woman and other members of staff were not injured during this robbery, they have been left understandably distressed by what happened.

“If anyone was in the Middleton Gardens area on Monday evening around the time of this robbery and you saw these two men, then please give us a call. Your information could be helpful to our investigation and assist us in taking these two men off our streets.”

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