Armed robbery at at the Norton Grange Hotel

Detectives in Rochdale are investigating an armed robbery on a cash-in-transit van at the Norton Grange Hotel on Manchester Road, Castleton on Monday 24 July 2006.

Officers were called at about 12.25pm. It is believed three men, armed with two guns, threatened a security guard who was delivering cash to the hotel.

It is understood the men followed the guard into the reception area of the hotel. They threatened him with a gun and forced him behind the reception desk. The men stole a large amount of money from the hotel safe before forcing the guard outside to the cash-in-transit van. The men were unable to steal any money from the van and made off in a dark coloured Nissan Primera, which was driven by a fourth man.

The security guard was punched in the face but did not require hospital treatment. There were members of hotel staff and guests in the reception area at the time of the robbery but no one else was injured.

The dark coloured Nissan was later found abandoned on Thornham Lane. Officers are appealing to anyone who saw suspicious activity on Thornham Lane at about 12.30pm to contact them.

The offenders are all described as being white and wearing dark clothing and balaclavas.
 
Anyone with information about the armed robbery or the car being dumped on Thornham Lane should contact detectives at Rochdale CID on 0161 856 8551 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Date article online: 25/07/2006