Robbers steal woman's Christmas gifts

DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after a woman was robbed of her car which was packed with Christmas presents for her grandchildren at Winwick, Warrington.
The incident happened at around 5.20pm on Wednesday evening when the victim was walking to her car which was parked on the car park of St Oswalds Church on Myddleton Lane, Winwick. She was approached by three men, one of whom was armed with a stick and demanded she hand over the keys to her car, a black ?54 plate convertible Volkswagen Beetle.
The victim, who is a local woman, was pushed to the floor during the fracas and the men also attempted to steal her handbag. Fortunately she was not seriously injured but shook up as a result of her ordeal.
The offenders fled the scene in the stolen Beetle which was found abandoned just a few hundred yards away on Green Lane minutes later.
Detective Sergeant Gordon Wilson who is co-ordinating the investigation said: “We understand that the thieves stole two binbags from the car that were packed with childrens Christmas presents. If anyone locally has been offered for sale any cuddly toys in unusual circumstances since the time of this incident we urge you to get in touch. Similarly, I would appeal to residents in the Green Lane area to contact us if they saw anyone behaving suspiciously in the area between 5.30-6.30pm last night, when most people are making their way home from work.”
Inspector Dave Griffiths of Warrington West Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Incidents such as this are thankfully uncommon in this area. This crime is particularly despicable as the thieves not only intimidated the victim, but stole her grandchildren?s Christmas presents. As this crime took place during rush hour we are keen to speak to any passing motorists in the area of Myddleton Lane and Golborne Road who may have seen the incident take place.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Warrington CID on 101.