Family robbery ordeal: Hunt for loitering suspect

Police at the scene in Crewe Road South. Picture: Greg Macvean

Four masked thugs assaulted and robbed the Chinese family-of-three at their Crewe Road South home after breaking in at around 2am yesterday.

The robbers, dressed in dark clothes and wearing balaclavas, threatened the couple and their ten-year-old child with a weapon while they raided the house, taking cash and jewellery worth a four-figure sum.

And the team investigating the “terrifying” incident – which lasted between five and ten minutes – revealed that they were looking for information about someone acting suspiciously in the area last Saturday.

Officers are investigating reports that the person was at the rear of the two-storey family home between 11am and noon on September 20.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Houston said police were still trying to ascertain the type of weapon used in yesterday’s incident, however he insisted a gun was not used.

DCI Houston said: “I think anywhere where people come into your house uninvited, demanding items, would be described as violent.

“There were no serious

injuries fortunately. We’re trying to get as many statements from the victims as possible. They [the robbers] demanded certain things as they went round the house.”

No-one was taken to hospital after the incident, which DCI Houston described as “traumatic”.

He said the intruders were believed to have spoken with Scottish accents, and there was “nothing to suggest” the assault was racially motivated.

The family left their home yesterday while forensics experts searched for clues.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “I’m really shocked that something like this could happen here. It’s like something you see on the television. It’s just scary. I know they have a little boy. I just can’t imagine how they will ever recover from this.”

Another neighbour said he had spotted a group of suspicious-looking men standing close to the house.

He said: “I remember seeing three boys, not four, at the top of the road huddling together around 10.30pm on Sunday. They were in their mid-20s and wearing hats. One of them had a bobble. They were standing on the pavement talking and one of them had a serious look on his face.”

Officers are now carrying out door-to-door inquiries, while extra patrols have been launched in the area.

DCI Houston said: “This was obviously a terrifying experience for them, and we are looking for any information to help us trace those responsible.

“I would be particularly keen to trace the drivers or occupants of any vehicles that were in the area at the time.”