Wigan village neighbours' warning after masked gang threaten resident with knife

Residents in Standish have been put on alert by their neighbourhood watch, after reports that a person was threatened with a knife when they tried to prevent a masked trio from stealing car parts.
By Liam Soutar
Published 30th Jan 2021, 10:36 BST
Updated 30th Jan 2021, 15:08 BST
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Standish Community Watch shared details of the incident, reported to them by a member of the public, which occurred around 8.45pm yesterday (Friday January 29) in Pepper Lane.

Reports claim that a resident went outside to investigate a "grinding noise", and saw a neighbour's Honda Accord jacked up, with a male cutting loose the catalytic converter. The good Samaritan went to intervene but quickly discovered the culprit was not alone, and was in fact part of a three-strong gang, one of whom threatened the resident with a blade.

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Fortunately, nobody was injured in the incident. The suspects then fled the area in a grey Seat Leon, and GMP officers are now working to trace the offenders.

Residents in Standish have been put on alert by their neighbourhood watchResidents in Standish have been put on alert by their neighbourhood watch
Residents in Standish have been put on alert by their neighbourhood watch

The Standish Community Watch urged anyone with information to call the police, and warned residents "Please do not approach these people."

In a social media post, the group said: "WARNING

"Tonight at 8.45pm on pepper lane a resident heard a grinding noise outside their house looked out of the window and saw the car jacked up and a guy cutting the catalytic converter from their neighbours car on their drive, intervening thinking there was only one guy when going round to next doors there was 3 all wearing balaclavas and one came at the resident with a knife. Police have been round and taken the CCTV footage of them with a knife. Their car was a dark grey seat Leon old shape Cupar R with loud exhaust."

"Please do not approach these people. Ring the police."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 8.45pm on Friday 29 January 2021, police were called to reports that three men armed with knives were attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a Honda Accord on Pepper Lane, Standish.

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"The men made threats towards a man who approached them before the trio fled in a grey Seat Leon.

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"No-one was injured and enquiries are ongoing to trace the offenders.

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"Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident number 2717 of 29/01/21, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

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