Hoodie woman attack on asthma sufferer

Gary Leese

POLICE are warning elderly and vulnerable residents to be wary after a woman managed to gain entry to a flat and stole a 52-year-old man’s wallet in Oldham.

Gary Leese was knocked to the floor when he opened the door to a woman who was banging on the entrance to his flat in Rock Street.

The woman managed to grab his wallet and entered the flat while Mr Leese, who suffers from asthma, was struggling to catch his breath.

The brazen thief looked around for any other valuables and then had the nerve to stop her search to drink a glass of water in Mr Leese’s kitchen while he attempted to call the police. She knocked the phone from his hand then ran away with Mr Leese unable to catch up.

Mr Leese said: “I heard banging on next door’s flat and I was concerned as it is currently empty.

“She then started banging on my door.

“I opened the door just slightly and the woman pushed the door into me.

“It knocked me to the floor and I struggled to catch my breath.

“My wallet had fallen out of my pocket and she grabbed it.

“I called the police and gave them a description.”

The woman managed to get away with around £30 in cash, Mr Leese’s bank cards and precious photographs inside the wallet.

However Mr Leese’s ordeal was not over as the woman then called back to his flat on the following two days, shouting through his intercom and demanding his PIN to access his bank accounts.

Mr Leese continued: “I was so shocked. She was shouting abuse down the intercom.

“She kept saying she knew who I was — it was quite scary.

Shouted

“I called the police and she went away but then came back again and shouted down the intercom again.

“I’d cancelled my bank cards so she couldn’t take anything more, but I’m worried she is targeting elderly and vulnerable people in the area.”

The woman is described as white, in her early 20s, short, slim build, dark hair and was wearing a grey hoodie and grey tracksuit trousers.

A police spokesman confirmed that they are looking for the woman and encouraged anyone to get in touch if they spotted her in the area or had experienced something similar.

He added: “This was a brazen theft where the offender barged their way into someone’s home and even grabbed a drink while they were there.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference 10/11/15/914.