Couple locked in bathroom while intruders ransacked their home

Intruders locked their two victims in a bathroom and stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery during a break-in in Rochdale.

It happened at the couple’s home on Leach Close at about 8pm on 12 January 2015.

As many as four intruders forced their way inside and demanded to know the location of their jewellery.

After threatening to physically attack the couple, they were bundled into the downstairs bathroom by the gang and locked in. While trapped, the gang ransacked the house and stole a large amount of jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Police are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

The first man is described as white, 6ft tall, of a medium build with green eyes. The second was also white, 5ft 3in tall and of a medium build. The third was said to be Asian, 5ft 3in tall and of a medium build and the final offender was 5ft 3in tall and of a medium build.

All were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.

Detective Constable Donna Rollinson said: "This couple suffered a traumatic and gut-wrenching ordeal at the hands of this criminal gang. Anyone who has been a victim of this type of intrusive crime will know just how upsetting it is and we need to find those responsible as soon as possible.

"We cannot allow innocent members of our community to be threatened in the sanctity of their own home and have their family jewellery stolen. We therefore need to not only find the offenders but also reunite the victims with what is rightfully theirs.

"I would therefore appeal to anyone who has information about this robbery to come forward and if you are offered Asian jewellery then please alert us immediately.

"Asian jewellery can be very lucrative when sold on the black market so there are a number of steps we would advise people take to protect themselves against this type of crime. For instance, keeping your jewellery in a safety deposit box at your local bank rather than in your home, or if you would prefer to keep the jewellery at home invest in a good quality safe which complies with official insurance rating standards and is secured to a wall or to the floor.

"Other more simple steps include double-locking your doors and windows, use timer switches on lamps to give the impression somebody is at home or keep a light on in the evening when you leave, consider installing alarms and 'dusk to dawn' security lighting or installing CCTV cameras outside your home.

"I would also ask anyone who thinks someone is acting suspiciously in your area to come forward. If you think someone is canvassing a property then please call us and we can try and stop these criminals in their tracks before they hurt someone else."

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.