Police arrest kidnap gang that preyed on new students

A KIDNAP gang that was forcing university freshers to hand over thousands of pounds during terrifying robberies have been arrested midway through a raid.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had received numerous reports that newly arrived students in the city were being targeted by a group who were coaxing them into a dark car.

Once inside the victims were threatened and forced to make online transfers of £3,000 from their student bank accounts before being let out of the car.

In some cases they were driven to cash machines just before midnight where they were forced to withdraw their maximum daily limit.

Once midnight had passed the gang forced them to repeat the procedure and withdraw the maximum daily amount again.

Early yesterday morning officers from the force’s Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit were on patrol in the city centre when they spotted a car matching the description. They stopped the car and discovered that an alleged robbery on a 19-year-old was in progress.

Four men aged 25, 23, 18 and 19 were then arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Following the arrests four houses were searched in south Manchester and during the searches a large quantity of ammunition was discovered.

DC Natalie Mcdonald of GMP’S City of Manchester team said: “This week we have many new students coming to Manchester and it is disappointing that some of their first memories of our city is that they were victims of crime.”