Violent Shropshire robberies to feature on Crimewatch
Two violent robberies carried out by three men at neighbouring homes in a north Shropshire village, will be featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme tonight.
Wielding a machete and a baseball bat type weapon, the robbers terrorized the occupants of the two houses in Wollerton, near Market Drayton, cutting a teenage boy and his mother at one of the addresses.
A heavily pregnant woman was manhandled and tied to a chair in front of her young son at the other property.
The two incidents happened just before 9am on Thursday, April 5. A team of detectives have been working on the case and a reconstruction will be shown on tonight's Crimewatch programme on BBC1 at 9pm.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards, head of Shropshire CID, said: "This was a violent and terrifying experience for the victims at the two homes. I am hoping tonight's reconstruction on national television will persuade people to come forward with information.
"We are very anxious to identify and trace these men. They confronted vulnerable people in their own homes inflicting nasty injuries to a young boy and his mother as well as assaulting a pregnant woman. They were cowardly crimes."
During the attacks, a 15-year-old boy received a cut to his hand while trying to protect his mother who was struck and cut on the head.
Both properties were ransacked before the gang fled with a small amount of stolen property in a black Land Rover Discovery taken from one of the homes. The vehicle was found within half an hour with its engine still running on the outskirts of the village.
Police believe the men then drove off in a silver coloured saloon car parked up in a nearby lay-by.
DCI Edwards said: "We are still investigating the motive for the attacks but at this stage, we do not think they were random."
He said West Mercia Police was working with neighbouring forces - including North Wales, Merseyside, Staffordshire and West Midlands - as it was possible the gang members were not from Shropshire.
"I am anxious to hear from anyone who spotted three or four men, possibly wearing hats, acting suspiciously in a silver car either the day before the attacks or during the early hours of Thursday, April 5 when their getaway vehicle may have been parked up on the approach to Wollerton.
"I am also appealing to members of the criminal fraternity to help as I believe they will not condone this kind of violence against women and children."
Anyone with information for the police investigation team should contact Shrewsbury on 0300 333 3000. Information can also be given to the anonymous Crimestoppers charity by calling 0800 555 111 for which a reward may be paid.
All three men are described as white and around 5ft 10 inches tall. Two are thought to be about 40 years old and the third in his mid to late twenties.
The younger man was wearing a black woollen knitted beanie type hat pulled own over his eyebrows. He appeared to have short, light brown hair.
