Gang of car-jackers threaten woman with machete as warning issued

Councillors have raised concerns about a ‘spate’ of car-jackings across Oldham - including in ‘broad daylight’ at a popular nature spot.

At a meeting of the full council, leader of the Conservative opposition group Councillor Graham Sheldon asked bosses what was being done to tackle the problem.

It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported it was hunting a ‘gang of men’ believed to be responsible for a string of recent car robberies across the borough.

A total of seven vehicle robberies have been reported to police between Monday, June 12, and Wednesday, June 28.

Saddleworth South ward member Coun Sheldon said: “There has unfortunately been a spate of car-jackings across the borough recently.

“With groups of men, some armed with weapons threatening drivers until their vehicles are handed over.

“In some cases this is happening in broad daylight, the police have reported several incidents of this within just over two weeks in June alone.

“This is happening all over the borough with just a cursory search of the news on this from the last few months raising examples of this in Saddleworth, Failsworth and Shaw, just to name a few.”

He added: “A recent example of this was just last week at Brun Clough Reservoir in Diggle in the middle of the day where a woman was threatened with a machete and forced out of her car by a group of three men.

“Given that Brun Clough is a local beauty spot and regularly busy, incidents of this nature could have a negative consequence with people choosing not to visit the area out of fear.

“Therefore what can the council and ourselves as local councillors do to combat this issue?

"And will the leader therefore support calls for people to be aware and remain vigilant when parking or returning to their car of suspicious individuals nearby?”

Council leader Arooj Shah said it was a ‘really appropriate question’, adding: “I share your concern. I think there is a lot that we have to do.

"I think it is a really sad place in society when we all have to worry about our safety and we can’t enjoy spaces that are there, mainly to make sure that we get some leisure and some recreational time.

“I think what would be a good thing to do is we could all meet as cross-party leaders with GMP but also with our community safety team to see what more we can do.

“And I think that we could also definitely have a campaign making people aware of some of the dangers, why they should be more vigilant – unfortunate that they have to be – but why they should be. And we could do a campaign around it.”

It is believed the same group of men are threatening drivers with violence, in some instances using bladed articles, to steal the cars, GMP has stated.

The robberies are being treated as linked and detectives are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen a group of men wearing balaclavas in the Shaw area.

Police have said that each robbery has taken place in an unlit area where there is no CCTV and have urged drivers to be vigilant when walking to their car at night.

Det Chief Insp Lindsay Booth of GMP’s Oldham district, said: “All the incidents reported to us have followed a very similar pattern of offending, so we now believe these to have been committed by the same group of people.

“It is lucky no one has been injured during these incidents and we are urging the public to be vigilant, especially whilst walking to your car at night when its dark, these robberies are happening in unlit areas where there is an absence of CCTV.

“We are now in a position in our investigation where we can appeal to the public to help us identify those responsible and we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed a group of men wearing balaclavas in the Shaw area of Oldham.

“If you have dash-cam or mobile footage or any information that you think could assist our investigation then please get in touch.

“No matter how insignificant you think the information might be, it could form a vital part of the investigation.”

Anyone with information – or footage – is urged to contact police on 0161 856 64521or 101 quoting log nine of 01/07/2023.

Alternatively, details can be passed via the LiveChat function at: www.gmp.police.uk or via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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