A young Gorton mum was brutally attacked with a crowbar as she tried to protect her children and elderly mother-in-law in a violent late-night robbery.
The shocking attack took place at the woman’s home on Buckley Road in the Gorton area of Manchester at about 3.30am on January 25.
The 28-year-old woman, who does not want to be named, was asleep when she heard loud noises coming from downstairs.
When she went to see what the noise was she found that the kitchen door had been kicked in so she went back upstairs to call the police.
She then heard her elderly mother-in-law shouting out of her bedroom window for help and went back downstairs to further investigate, only to be confronted by up to five men.
One of the men threatened the woman with a crowbar, and even claimed he would attack her two children, a four-year-old boy and a twelve-month-old girl, unless she gave him cash and jewellery.
The man then launched a vicious attack on the woman, striking her arms and legs, forcing her to retreat upstairs.
The gang then searched the house for valuables, stealing jewellery and other personal items.
Shortly before leaving, the thugs threatened to harm the woman’s elderly mother-in-law with a hammer, and attacked the young mother several more times with the crowbar.
The gang eventually left the traumatised family.
Police have now released a CCTV still of the offenders moments before they forced their way into the home, which clearly shows one member of the gang carrying the crowbar.
They have also released a CCTV still of the man carrying the crowbar.
Detective Constable Michael O’Connor of Greater Manchester Police said: “The facts of this appalling and shocking robbery speak for themselves.”
“The sheer brutality of the violence defies belief and the fact they even threatened to harm two very young children while striking their mum repeatedly with a crowbar tells its own story about how wicked the culprits are.
“Not content with that, they also threatened an elderly woman with a hammer. They are clearly a dangerous gang and we need to find them without delay before any other family can be subjected to such violence.
Detective Constable O’Connor is calling for any additional information to help find the suspects.
He said: “We are continuing to offer support to the family at what is clearly a difficult time and the best support we can offer is to take these men off the streets and lock them up.
“I would therefore appeal to anyone who has information about this robbery to come forward. Any information you have, no matter how trivial you might think it is, could contain a vital clue that helps us find these men so please, if you do know anything, call us.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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