Robbers armed with large sticks targeted a man with binoculars and surveillance as he walked through a scenic spot, a police chief has revealed.
Detectives are searching for a man who is said to have a distinctive tattoo, believed to be in the shape of horns or barbed wire, around his knuckles.
Bury Police’s Neighborhood Crime Team said the robbery happened on a section of the Kirklees Trail between Tottington and Brundlesholme at around 2.30pm last Thursday. The Kirklees Trail is a former railway line linking Greenmount and Bury town centres. It is a major route through the Kirklees Valley Regional Nature Reserve and forms part of the national cycle route.
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The victim, whose name has not been released, was allegedly approached by two robbers armed with large sticks and demanded his binoculars and watch.
It is unclear whether he was injured in the robbery, and his age has not been released. Police are currently appealing to the public and publishing an explanation. Both robbers appear to be teenagers.
Investigators are appealing for information from anyone with surveillance camera images covering the area of the trail involved.
GMP Bury North posted on Facebook: “At around 2.30pm, the victim was approached by two men carrying large sticks and demanded binoculars and a watch.
“The first male was described as white, medium build, approximately 17 to 18 years of age. He was wearing black tracksuit bottoms, black trainers that appeared to be running shoes, and a black shiny hooded top. He was wearing clothes and had his hood up.
“The second male is white, medium build, approximately 17 to 18 years old, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, wearing black tracksuit bottoms, black sweatshirts, and a black shiny hooded top. He was wearing a jacket with the hood pulled over his head and his jacket zipped up.
“This man had distinctive tattoos around his knuckles that looked like horns or barbed wire.
“It is unknown what route the perpetrator took after committing the robbery. We are asking residents who have CCTV cameras covering access points to Kirklees Trail to check their cameras and find any images matching the perpetrator’s description. We would like to ask you to confirm whether a person has been captured.”
“CCTV can be sent directly to Detective Inspector PC Hubbard on [email protected] or by contacting the team directly on 0161 8568222. To share information about this incident and wish to remain anonymous If this is the case, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” No further details were released.