Balaclava-clad men ‘armed with BB gun and bat’ hold up antiques sale: Police hunting trio
A group of men wearing ski masks tried to rob an antique sale with a BB gun and a baseball bat on Wednesday.
The botched robbery took place at the Masonic Hall in Swinton, Greater Manchester, where a jewelery and antiques event was due to be held throughout the day.
Three men reportedly entered the building at around 11.30am, along with one of the hoodlums, holding what appeared to be a gun and shouting ‘don’t move’ at customers and staff.
The hall was temporarily closed after armed police arrived at the scene.
A member of the public bravely scuffled with one of the suspects and managed to pull out his gun, but all three robbers managed to escape.
Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed the gun was a BB gun, while a member of the public suffered minor injuries.
Police have launched an investigation urging anyone with information to come forward.
It was stated that the event was organized by webuyvintage.co.uk, where the public can meet experts who will evaluate the value of vintage items and collectibles free of charge and honestly.
The botched heist took place at the Masonic Hall (pictured) in Swinton, Greater Manchester, where a jewelery and antiques event was due to be held throughout the day.
A BB gun (file image). It was reported that three men entered the building with one of the men around 11.30 am, holding a gun-like weapon in his hand and shouting ‘don’t move’. Greater Manchester Police later confirmed the gun was a BB gun
They boast that the average customer walks away with more than £700.
Witnesses of the strange incident said that the suspects burst into the hall ‘demanding goods’ and reduced ‘children and old women’ to tears.
A witness told Manchester Evening News: ‘One of the three children ran with a gun, one with a baseball bat, and the other with a person waiting in the corridor. ‘Nobody move,’ the gunman shouted.’
The witness, who wished to remain anonymous, recalled that a man who was ‘buying gold and silver’ on a promotional tour grabbed the man with a BB gun, then hit the man in the head with a baseball bat.
‘Then I ran towards them, grabbed a chair and threw it at the boy. “Then they ran away,” they continued.
Detective Inspector Paul Davies, of GMP’s Salford site, said: ‘This was a horrific incident for those in the hall and I would like to pay tribute to members of the public who acted incredibly bravely during this incident.
‘We could easily have had more serious consequences and I’m glad no one was seriously injured.
‘Although only a few hours have passed since this incident, we have launched a full investigation to establish the full circumstances and I would urge anyone with any information to please get in touch.’
