Shocking and bizarre crimes reported to police in December

Machete gang attack

A woman was attacked in her own home by a gang of masked burglars brandishing a machete.

The three men, who were wearing balaclavas and dark clothing, barged their way into the property on Wellington Street in Howley at around 9pm on Thursday, December 3.

One of the trio, who was armed with the weapon, grabbed the woman and pushed her up against a wall.

She managed to flee the address and sought the help of neighbours.

The attackers stole a quantity of cash before leaving on foot in the direction of the Star Moon takeaway.

Parcels stolen during break-in

A crate of parcels was stolen during a burglary at the Royal Mail’s Warrington collection centre.

The Milner Street sorting office was broken into at around 3.45am on Friday, December 4, by a man wearing a high-vis jacket.

He then targeted the site again shortly after 5am, but was chased away by a member of staff.

Delivery driver kidnapped

One of the most terrifying incidents last month came on Monday, December 7, when a delivery driver was kidnapped outside the Starbucks on Apollo Park.

The victim was waiting to meet colleagues in the car park of the Omega coffee shop at around 7.30pm when he was forced into the back of his van by two carjackers.

They drove him around six-and-a-half miles away to a cemetery in Prescot before abandoning him.

Here, the offenders transferred all of the parcels he was couriering into a waiting van.

Both vehicles were then driven away ‘at speed’.

Chip shop cannabis farm

Police discovered a cannabis farm above a popular chip shop after being called to break up fighting.

Officers attended reports of an altercation involving a number of men at Mike and Martha’s, on Winwick Street in the town centre, on Friday, December 4.

While on the premises, they found several cannabis plants growing in the flat above the chippy.

Three men were arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis, but they have since been released under investigation.

Robbers steal boy’s coat

A fifteen-year-old boy had his coat stolen during an upsetting street robbery in Stockton Heath.

He was approached by the two attackers at around 4.45pm on Wednesday, December 2.

The pair demanded his jacket before pushing to the ground and kicking him several times.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery in connection with the incident, but was later released on conditional bail.

Arsonists target flats

Arsonists started a fire at a block of flats on Redshank Lane in Birchwood in the early hours of Monday, December 21.

A wheelie bin was set on fire inside a communal area at roughly 5.30am.

Around a dozen residents were evacuated, with firefighters spending two-and-a-half hours tackling the blaze.