POLICE are hunting two men who threatend a 24-year-old man with a knife before forcing him to withdraw money from a cash machine on Lovely Lane, Warrington.
The robbery took place between 11.20am and 11.40am on Sunday 29 September when a 24-year-old man from the town had his path blocked by two strangers on a mountain bike as he attempted to walk through The Brooklands pub car park on Lovely Lane.
The two men, who had come from the direction of Lexden Street, got off the orange Carrera bike and demanded to see the contents of the bag the victim was carrying.
The victim was threatened and shown a knife that one of the offenders had in his waistband.
After seeing that the victim had a bank card in his bag, they took him to a cash machine at the McColl’s convenience store on Lovely Lane.
One of the offenders walked alongside him and the other pushed the mountain bike.
When they got to the ATM the offenders withdrew a quantity of cash from the victim’s bank account and the three of them then walked back in the direction of The Brooklands.
The victim left the offenders as they split his money in an alleyway near to Joy’s Kitchen and The Hatter pub on Lovely Lane.
Both of the offenders were white, are estimated to be aged between 20 and 25 and were wearing black bottoms.
One of the men was slim, around 5’ 8” tall and had dark bushy eyebrows and swept back black hair that was shaved at the sides. He had a scar from his eye to his mouth, spoke with an Irish accent and had a black hooded bubble jacket on.
The other offender was much stockier and taller, at approximately 6’ 1”. He was clean shaven, spoke with a local accent and was wearing a black hooded North Face bubble jacket with the hood up.
Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing and detectives are appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed anything that may be relevant to their investigation to get in touch.
They also want to speak to anyone who believes they may know who the offenders are, or have CCTV or dashcam footage of them.
Detective Constable Jill Peggs, of Warrington CID, said: “The victim was subjected to a frightening ordeal and has understandably been left extremely shaken up.
“I would like to reassure residents that we are determined to establish the identities of the offenders and bring them to justice.
“This incident occurred in daylight along what is typically a busy road.
“Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and as part of our investigation I am appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed any part of the robbery to contact us at Warrington CID.
“The same goes for anyone who thinks they may know who the offenders are or have CCTV or dashcam footage of them.”
Anyone with information or CCTV footage that may help the investigation should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 526071, give the details via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Dashcam footage can be submitted online at https://cheshireconstabulary.egressforms.com.
Chief Inspector Simon Meegan, of Warrington Local Policing Unit (LPU), said: “We are committed to doing all that we can to tackle knife crime in the town.
“It is an issue that we take extremely seriously and Warrington LPU will ensure that anyone found to be carrying a knife or committing a knife related offence in the town is made to face the consequences of their actions.
“But the police cannot beat knife crime without the help of the local community and we urge anyone with information about people who may be carrying knives to come forward and speak to us or independent charity Crimestoppers.”
You can report any type of knife crime by calling Cheshire Constabulary on 101. Dial 999 in an emergency.
