Elderly couple are threatened with axe for their car keys
POLICE ISSUE WARNING AFTER A SPATE OF VIOLENT ATTACKS ON VULNERABLE DRIVERS
AN ELDERLY disabled couple have spoken of their terror after violent robbers threatened them with an axe in the latest in a spate of frightening car attacks - as Saddleworth police warned there was a ‘clear and current threat’ to local residents.
The pensioners, who are both in their late 70s and wish to remain anonymous, said the thieves held up a large axe as they forced them out of their £42,000 white BMW X1 on Thursday night.
This is the fourth similar attack as robbers target vulnerable drivers of high end sports cars such as Audis, BMWs, and Mercedes.
Extra police patrols are on the streets and GMP say they are tackling the crimes head on and are determined to catch the gang.
The couple have spoken out about the ordeal which happened outside their home on Langley Avenue, Grotton, shortly before midnight.
They were defiant and said they won’t let it panic them.
The woman had picked up her husband from a local pub and they had just pulled up on their drive when they were approached by two males.
She said: “My husband got out of the passenger seat and I could hear him talking to someone and thought it was someone walking their dog.
“But then a man came to my side of the car and told me to get out.
“He was actually polite and not aggressive. “He said ‘just get out’! which I did. “He only looked about 18 and had a hood on.
“As I got out the car I looked up onto the road and there was this other lad, who was taller than the other, with a big axe with a long handle.
“They said ‘we don’t want any trouble, we just want your keys.’ So we handed the keys over.
“Then they got in the car and drove off. It was all a bit of a matter of fact really.
“But we are both disabled so rely on the car to get around.
“I am glad my mobility scooter wasn’t in the back. They are the scum of the earth. It’s a business to them.”
One of the men drove away in the couple’s car and the other drove off in a blue sports car.
It is understood the men are local to the Oldham area as they spoke with a local accent and are described as Asian, wearing scruffy clothes. The male victim added: “You can’t panic can you? It’s not personal. They just want the car. “They don’t care whose it is and what we need it for. It’s just the car.”
Saddleworth PC Lee Cullen said there was a ‘clear and current threat’ to residents not only in Saddleworth but also the whole of Oldham and vowed that the offenders would be caught.
He said: “We don’t want our local community to feel threatened or scared.
“You have to be able to go out there and live your life and be able to do what you want to do. However there are basic steps you can take.
We are both disabled. We rely on the car. They are the scum of the earth Woman driver of stolen BMW
“Make sure that you are going into is as safe as it possibly can be. Look and listen out for things. If you don’t feel safe approaching your vehicle then don’t approach it. Retrace your steps back to where you have come from and call the police.”
He said if drivers have a face to face confrontation with the gang, get out of your vehicle and walk away.
PC Cullen added: “You have to think about yourself. Vehicles can be repaired and replaced. It’s your personal safety that is of paramount importance.”
He said if there is something out of place at or near your vehicle record as much of it as you can using your phone or visually make a note of it and call the police.
He added: “It’s important that we can build up an intelligence picture about who these people are so we can target them.
“We have additional resources in the Saddleworth area and specialist resources are also being deployed and we are determined to bring these people to justice.”
“When we get a spike in crime like this, a particular crime trend we always pull resources into it to tackle it immediately. The last thing we want to do is let this type of thing grow.
“It’s important we tackle it head on and we have put all of our efforts into catching these people.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.