A family of four have been forced to move from their Salford home after a violent robbery

September 2, 2012, 2:16 pm

A family of four have been forced to move from their Salford home after a violent robbery.

It happened at their flat on Woden Street in Ordsall, Salford, at about 9.35pm on 19 July 2012.

The victims, a husband and wife who was eight months pregnant at the time, along with their two sons aged 18 months old and three-years-old, were in the flat at the time.

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The two children were asleep and when the wife, 28, heard a loud knocking at the door. Presuming it was a neighbour as a fob is needed to gain entry to the block of flats, she opened the door and was confronted by four men, three of whom were wearing balaclavas who forced their way in.

She screamed for her husband’s help as she was bundled in the children’s bedroom and when her husband tried to help they were both assaulted. At one point, the woman was told “give us the money or I will kill you” as the offender pointed at her unborn child.

As they ransacked the house, the husband begged the intruders to let his wife go to their children who were now crying. However, they would only allow her to sit on the sofa with the three-year-old and she was not allowed to see her other son.

Eventually the offenders fled empty-handed.

Police are now appealing to anyone who has information about the robbery to come forward. Four CCTV stills have been released and police are appealing to anyone who recognises the men pictured to come forward.

Police Constable Michelle Ingham said: “The facts in this violent robbery speak for themselves. This family were subjected to a prolonged and frightening ordeal which we suspect might have been a case of mistaken identity.

“However, whether this is true or not the sheer cruelty these offenders displayed, particularly in not even allowing a defenceless woman to come to the aid of her 18-month-old son who was crying and clearly very scared, shows just how low these men were prepared to stoop.

“So traumatised were the family that they have since moved out.

“We have carried out a number of inquiries and have obtained CCTV stills of some of men we suspect may be involved. We think they managed to get into the apartment block by following another resident inside, so I would ask people to firstly look at these images and if you recognise these men then please call us.

“Secondly, if you think one of these men followed you into the flats on the day of the robbery, then again we need to hear from you as you may have vital information.”

Anyone who does have information should call police on 0161 856 5250 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.