Police have released an e-fit of one of two armed burglars who tied up a 13-year-old girl and threatened to cut off her fingers in Oldham.
The incident occurred at around 7.15pm on Wednesday February 25, when the victim was alone at her family home on Croft Brow, Hollinwood.
Two men threw a paving slab through the rear kitchen door, burst into the property and dragged her from the living room into one of the upstairs bedrooms, tying her hands and feet with a phone charger wire.
They then threatened her with a knife, saying ‘We’ll kill you’ and ‘We will cut off your fingers’ unless she cooperated and told them where her parents kept their cash.
The offenders ransacked the entire house, keeping the victim tied up for 45 minutes whilst they completed their search, but eventually fled the property empty-handed out of the back door and drove off in a car.
GMP Detective Inspector Lewis Hughes said: “This was a horrific and traumatising ordeal for the victim, who was not only subjected to terrifying threats by these thugs, but was also kept tied up for almost an hour.
“I cannot imagine how awful that must have been for her, and for her family once they discovered what had happened to their little girl.
“For two grown men to do something like this to a child shows exactly the type of people we are dealing with, they are ruthless, heartless and must be brought to justice as swiftly as possible.
When the men left, the brave victim managed to free herself from her restraints and raise the alarm.
The first offender is described as a black man, in his 30s, medium build and around 6ft tall. He was wearing a black woolly hat, jeans and gloves with a brown jacket and a scarf partially covering his face.
The second offender is described as a white man in his 20s, taller than 6ft, with a skinny build. He was wearing a dark woolly hat, black jacket and was clean shaven.
“There have been no other similar incidents in the area and this seems to be a one-off, but make no mistake we will be doing everything in our power to ensure that these men are not able to subject anyone else to such an ordeal,” said Detective Inspector Hughes
“If you saw anyone matching the above descriptions in the area at the time, or have any information regarding this incident, please contact police.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 9035 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
