Elderly man and granddaughter threatened with a screwdriver in a burglary in Penwortham
Lancashire Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
An elderly man and his granddaughter were threatened by a gang armed with a knife and a screwdriver at a house in Penwortham.
It happened at around 6pm on Saturday at a house on Hawkhurst Road when four men forced their way in threatening them.
The 82-year-old man and his eight-year-old granddaughter were threatened with a screwdriver and a knife before the gang ransacked the house, stealing cash and personal belongings.
Police said the group then made off in a dark coloured SUV style vehicle.
DC Nick Steenbergen from Chorley Police said: “This is a shocking incident which must have been terrifying for the victims - an elderly man and a child - who were threatened in the place they should be most safe, their home.
“Thankfully, the victims were not physically hurt during the burglary but have been left extremely shaken.
“These individuals were prepared to use weapons and threats in order to steal and we are following a number of lines of enquiry in order to identify them.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious, particularly a dark coloured SUV style vehicle, to contact us. I would especially appeal to anyone who has dash cam or CCTV footage to get in touch”.
The offenders are described as white, between 5ft 5ins to 5ft 7ins tall and aged in their mid-twenties to early thirties.
Anyone with information can call 101 quoting log number 1084 of November 28th or email 65@lancashire.police.uk.
Independent charity Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.