Five lone women were ‘terrorised’ by two men on a motorbike in a series of ‘cowardly’ robberies across Manchester and Salford this week.
The thefts happened in a concentrated three hour time period across Manchester and Salford earlier this week.
Police are now hoping that this appeal for information will help solve the crimes that Dectective Inspector Andy Naismith described as deliberate and targeted.
“I think there will be members of the criminal fraternity who will be as appalled as I am by the persistent targeting of lone women,” he said.
“The actions of these two men are nothing short of cowardly.
“Over a period of about three hours, two men have terrorised five women in separate yet deliberate and targeted robberies.
“Some have been in their cars, others walking on the street, and all have been left understandably shaken by what has occurred.”
The first incident occurred just after 6.00pm on Wednesday February 26, in a car park off Pollard Street.
One of men approached and then punched a 28-year-old woman to the ground before wrestling her bag and phone away from her and fleeing the scene on the motorbike.
The second robbery happened later at around 8.15pm on Bury New Road, Broughton Park.
The men stopped alongside a Jaguar X Type, driven by a 33-year-old woman, that had stopped at lights at the junction with Singleton Street.
One of the men smashed her front passenger side window and grabbed her bag.
The woman instinctively drove off, causing the man to let go of the bag, though he snatched a folder that was inside before hurrying back to the motorbike.
Around fifteen minutes later, the pair targeted a 26-year-old woman in a car park off Stock Street East, Cheetham Hill.
One of the duo approached her car and shattered the passenger window before leaning inside and taking the woman’s handbag.
Minutes later, also in Cheetham Hill, one of pair snatched a mobile phone from a 32-year-old woman who was walking along Cilbran Street.
Later two men on a motorbike were seen looking through purses on Queen’s Road, Collyhurst at about 8.40pm.
The final reported robbery happened shortly after 9pm at a junction of Cheetham Hill Road and Middleton Road.
The two men followed a Toyota Yaris driven by a 26-year-old women into a side street and took her bag after breaking in through the window.
A handbag stolen in one of the incidents was found on Tamerton Drive, Cheetham Hill shortly before 9.45pm.
The two men were wearing dark clothing and motorcycle helmets that contained bright colours.
DI Naismith warned women to stay vigilant while out driving alone and hopes anyone with any information will get in touch.
“I would urge anyone with information about any of the incidents or about who the offenders might be to contact us,” he said.
“I would also like to urge women to be mindful of these incidents and if they are out driving alone not to leave possessions on show in their car – such as on the front passenger seat – and if they are out walking to have any items such as mobiles secured in zip pockets.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 3892, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Picture courtesy of Laundry Broad, with thanks.
