Man threatened with a knife had car stolen

A man had his car stolen from a man claiming to want to buy it.

The 40-year-old Rochdale man placed an advert on the internet for his silver Toyota Yaris on Tuesday 7 January 2014.

The next day, he received a phone call from a man who claimed he wanted to see the car. He gave him his address and the man arrived in the Kingsway area at around 6pm.

When the man asked could he take the car for a test drive, the owner agreed and both got inside.

He took it for a short drive before pulling up at Dodgson Street with its junction with Jones Street. The offender told the man that his phone was ringing before he pulled out a knife and demanded he got out of the car.

The man then drove off along Dodgson Street and in the direction of Crawford Street.

He is described as being white, in his mid 20s to 30s, 5ft 4in tall, of large build, wore dark jogging pants, dark jacket , black woollen hat and spoke with a local accent.

Detective Constable Hannah Greetham based at Rochdale police station said: "The victim genuinely thought the offender was there to view his car with the potential to sell it to him. One moment they were driving around the local area to test it, the next he was being held up at knifepoint.

"Although the man was not hurt in anyway, this has really shook him up and affected him.

"The car has not yet been recovered and I would ask anyone who may have seen the vehicle with an SC59 registration or witnessed the man take it to contact police."

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 8552 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.