Barrow slash victim tells of attack at home
Last updated at 11:22, Tuesday, 10 July 2012
A MAN'S face and chest were slashed by would-be thieves outside his home.
John Thistlethwaite said he woke at 12.30am yesterday to find torch lights flashing around his living room.
He said he jumped out of bed after he saw two men trying to steal a motorbike from the car port of his Bath Street home in Barrow.
After confronting the thieves, one of the men slashed Mr Thistlethwaite’s face – narrowly missing his right eye – and chest with what is believed to be a craft knife, before both men made off on foot in the direction of Asda.
The 51-year-old declined hospital treatment for his injuries.
He said: “I heard a bang and saw a torch light on the ceiling.
“I ran out of the house and confronted the pair in the car port.
“One ran off but I managed to grab the other by the wrist. But he struck out at me with a blade. I just felt something warm on my face and I saw the blood on my arm. I let go of him and he ran off.”
Mr Thistlethwaite said one of the men was dressed in a dark hoodie, which covered his face, while the other was wearing a parka jacket, also with the hood over his face. He believed the men to be in their early 20s.
Upon inspection, the protective casing around the ignition casing of his son Glen’s Aprilia RS motorbike had been cut.
After investigating an alarm that went off further up the road, towards Chatsworth Street, shortly after the incident, Mr Thistlethwaite’s sons Glen and Lee said they were nearly run over by two men matching the assailants' descriptions.
The brothers said they saw two men get in to an old-style Jaguar car before driving down the pavement towards them, forcing them back against the wall, before the car sped off.
Mr Thistlethwaite said his home has been targeted three times in the past month by thieves.
A push bike, valued at £300, was stolen from the garden shed a month ago, before a few other items, including a car polisher and dart board, were stolen from his car port more recently.
Detective Constable, Cheryl Smith, of Barrow CID, said: “We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen two males matching this description in the Bath Street area, in nearby local public houses or in the area of Asda.
“Any witnesses or anyone with information should ring police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”
First published at 09:45, Monday, 09 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
I don't feel safe in my home town after reading things like this something needs to be done about all these things ASAP
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The police seem to come out after every serious attack in Barrow and claim serious crime is falling. Who are they kidding? Barrow is getting worse and will continue to get worse!
Posted by R W on 10 July 2012 at 16:58