A gang of masked thieves left staff and residents at a Salford nursing home distraught yesterday, after broke in and stole cash and jewellery.
Four men clad in balaclavas used brute force to smash up the magnetic lock at the front of the Pendleton Court Nursing Home just before 4pm on Monday.
Once inside they burst into the office and told three members of staff, all women, to get down on the floor.
The thieves then forced one of the women to put cash and items of jewellery belonging to the residents into a bag.
One of the thieves then frogmarched one of the women into another room, knocking the mobile phone out of the hands of a fourth staff member who had come out of another office after hearing a commotion.
He then forced the woman to put cash and items of jewellery belonging to the residents into a bag.
There were more than 50 residents at home at the time of the robbery.
Detective Inspector Kenny Blain from Greater Manchester Police said: “This is an outrageous attack on a nursing home that provides care to some of the most elderly, frail and vulnerable members of our community.”
“The staff who work at this home should be treated with dignity and respect for the fantastic work they do looking after the residents 24/7, not subjected to such intimidation at the hands of thieves who, if they are desperate and cowardly enough to target a nursing home, need to be locked up.”
No-one was injured during the robbery and none of the residents suffered any physical injuries.
All four men fled the scene in a VW Golf, which had been reported stolen from Salford earlier this month, sped off.
It was later found abandoned and burnt out on Butte Street, Salford.
Det Insp Blain added: “I want to assure people living at the home, families who have loved ones here and the wider community that we will use whatever resources we have at our disposal to find these thieves.
“We are pursuing a number of active lines of inquiry to ensure we identify everyone involved and bring the full force of the law down upon them.
He also said that there will be regular patrols in the area over the coming days.
“I also want to stress robberies at nursing homes or other institutions which care for people are incredibly rare and without diminishing the gravity of this robbery, I do not want anyone else living or working at other homes to be fearful,” he said.
The offenders are described as being white, between 20 and 30-years-old and wearing balaclavas and dark clothing. One member of the gang was said to be about 5ft 8in to 5ft 9in tall, of a stocky build and with big lips, possibly with his upper front teeth missing.
Det Insp Blain said: “I would urge people in the area to help us in our efforts by reporting any information you have about this appalling crime.
“If you saw a VW Golf being driven erratically or at speed in the Irlam O’th Heights area then please call us.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Image courtesy of Stephen Craven, via YouTube, with thanks.
