Elderly couple’s robbery ordeal

AN 89-year-old pensioner was locked in his bathroom by a gang of ‘cruel’ thugs as they threatened his elderly wife at knifepoint.

The four robbers went on to ransack the couple’s home and escaped with cash.

Police said they were left ‘understandably shaken up’, but weren’t physically hurt.

Detectives described the robbery as ‘utterly deplorable’ as they appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

They said just ‘a bit’ of money was taken. The gang - who all had their faces covered - knocked at the back door of the couple’s home on Roch Mills Gardens, off Roch Valley Way in Marland, Rochdale.

The 84-year-old homeowner answered the door, but they barged inside.

A GMP spokesman said: “The woman’s husband, who is 89, was in the bathroom at the time and the burglars kept him trapped in there while they threatened his wife.

“They then ransacked the property and left with a quantity of cash. The victims weren’t injured but were understandably very shaken up.”

The robbery happened between 5pm and 5.35pm last Friday, November 23.

Det Con Jordan Wilcock, from Rochdale CID, said: “I can’t imagine the fear this couple must have felt as these men stormed into their home brandishing a weapon.”

“This is utterly deplorable and how anyone could ever target such vulnerable people for a bit of money is beyond comprehension.

“Did you see anyone in the area that raised suspicion or just seemed unusual?

“We are desperate for information and to find these cruel thieves.”

Call police on 0161 856 8635, quoting incident number 1654 of November 23, 2018, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.