Raiders chased off by plucky pensioners

Photo: Darren Robinson

John McLean chased off a burglar with his walking stick.

Elderly couples have been terrified in house raids in Holts and Oldham Edge.

Among the victims were John McLean, who confronted a burglar at his Oldham Edge home yesterday, and Sydney and Rita Bragg of Holts, who chased a robber from their home in Holts on Sunday.

Mr McLean, of Anvil Way, was in bed at around 3am when the light in the hallway flicked on and a man’s face appeared at his bedroom door.

The 72 year old, who has asthma, said: “I was terrified he might have a knife. He was asking for my phone and wallet but I told him I didn’t have one and told him to go away. He came toward me and I hit him with my walking stick. He ran off with two mobile phones.

“I was a bit shaken. I’ve been broken into four times since I’ve lived here.”

Mr and Mrs Bragg were in the living room of their home in Wildmoor late in the evening when the door opened and a skinny man in all dark clothes asked to use the phone.

Mr Bragg (80), who has heart problems, said: “He said somebody was chasing him, so we said he could use it.

“He grabbed the phone off me and started pushing buttons but not calling anyone. he pretended to have a conversation. I told him to give me the phone back.”

Mrs Bragg (78) shouted at him to get out of my house and a scuffle ensued in which hre husband hit the man with his crutch - but was then hit back by the intruder.

The stunned couple spent four hours at the Royal Oldham Hospital while Mr Bragg was treated for bruising.

The man ran off with a mobile phone and Sydney’s diabetes monitor.

Insp Muz Kernain said: “We will not tolerate incidents like these. We won’t rest until these people are brought to justice.

“These people have been subjected to terrifying ordeals and were badly shaken.”