Man lures people in on dating app before trying to steal their cars at knife point in Greater Manchester
Do you recognize this man?
Last updated 27th Mar 2019
Police in Greater Manchester are hunting a man who's using a dating app to lure people in before trying to steal their cars at knife point.
It's happened three times over the last 48 hours - the men have all been threatened with a knife - just last night one of the victims was stabbed numerous times after going on a date with the offender in Salford.
Detectives have now released a CCTV image of a man they're looking to trace in connection with all three incidents.
The first happened shortly before 7pm on Monday 25th March, when a man in his 50s was threatened in his own home in Irlam o’ th’ Height in Salford by an offender with a knife who demanded that he hand over his car keys.
The offender failed to start the car and fled the scene.
An hour later in Prestwich, a man in his 40s had a knife held to his throat by an offender on Bury Old Road who demanded the victim’s car keys.
The victim received small cuts to his throat, back and forearm and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Then, at around 5.45pm last night (Tuesday 26th March), a man in his 20’s was threatened in his car on Bolton Road in Pendlebury by a man he had met up with earlier this afternoon via an online dating app.
The offender – who was a passenger in the car – threatened the man as they were parked on the roadside and demanded he hand over his car keys before stabbing him several times.
The attacker then fled the scene on foot in the direction of Birch Drive towards High Bank Road.
The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries and he remains there for treatment.
Detective Inspector Gareth Jenkins, of GMP’s Salford district, said: “This is now the third attack following an attempted carjacking after an online dating app meeting and we’re working hard to find the man responsible.
“We have a CCTV image of a man we want to speak to as part of our investigation and I would appeal directly to the man to get in touch with us.
“We would also continue to encourage people using dating apps to always meet new people in public places and to let someone know where you’re going.
“If you have any information that could assist our investigation or if you recognise the man pictured, please get in touch as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5194 or 101 quoting reference number 1764 of 26/03/2019.
Reports can also be made anonymously, via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.