Car attacked with hammers and substantial amount of cash taken during Middleton robbery

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Grimshaw Lane heading towards Middleton town centre

A car was forced off the road and attacked by four men with hammers during a robbery in Middleton.

Around 9.30am Monday (25 July) the 36-year-old victim was driving a blue Honda Jazz on Grimshaw Lane heading towards Middleton town centre.

As he approached the junction with Townley Street he was forced off the road by a red Renault Clio.

Four men armed with hammers then got out of the Clio and smashed the windows of the victim’s car before taking a substantial amount of cash from him.

He was not injured in the attack.

The men then drove off in the direction of Alkrington and dumped the car off Andover Avenue.

The men were described as white and wearing dark clothes and masks.

Around 9.45am a taxi heading towards Simister Island on the M60 pulled up on the hard shoulder and four men were seen running off towards Heaton Park.

Detective Constable Dan Daly, from GMP’s Rochdale borough, said: “We are currently linking both of the incidents and are following a number of lines of enquiry.

“There were some initial reports that the taxi may have been hijacked and enquiries are ongoing in relation to that.

“This would have been extremely frightening for the victim and I would like to thank him for his courage whilst helping police.

“I would appeal to anyone who saw either incident to please get in touch with us. Likewise, if anyone has any information I would also ask them to let us know.”

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.