Armed robbers attack OAPs in own home

Aug 22 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

AN elderly couple were attacked in their Birmingham home by armed thugs including one wearing a Scream-style horror mask.

Three thugs set about the couple after being found sneaking around outside their Sheldon home.

They threatened the 70-year-old woman at knifepoint and hit her husband of 71 across the hand with a bat, leaving him with a broken wrist.

The trio spent 15 minutes inside couple's home as they ransacked drawers after pouncing at 10pm on Sunday.

West Midlands Police said the elderly woman was confronted by the masked gang when she opened the back door of her home in Broadstone Road.

Among the jewellery stolen was a diamond and sapphire engagement ring, a gold chain with a clown pendant and some bracelets. They also stole cash.

Police said both victims were extremely traumatised by the incident.

The offenders are described as three white youths in their late teens.

One wore a white "Scream" type mask, the other two wore dark masks. All of them were wearing dark hooded tops.

Detectives at Stechford can be contacted on 0845 113 50000.

In a seperate incident an 81-year-old woman was threatened with a knife by a man who burst into her home in Lower Gornal, Dudley, at 5.50pm on Monday.

The man is described as white, in his late 20s, 5ft 8ins to 6ft, of medium build with short, dark, tidy hair. Witnesses should ring CID on 0845 113 5000.