Hunt for machete-wielding burglars who attacked homeowner before stealing litter of seven newborn puppies
- Masked robbers followed man into his flat in Harpurhey, Manchester, at 9.30am
- The thieves attacked him and left him with wounds to his forearms and his hands
- Came by the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross-breeds with their mother Zena in flat
- Grabbed puppies, four females, three males, and shoved them into carrier bag
Sick thieves have stolen seven puppies and slashed their mother with a machete as they raided a flat this morning.
Masked robbers followed a man into his property on Fernclough Road, in Harpurhey, north Manchester, at around 9.30am.
The two began attacking their victim leaving him on the floor with defensive wounds to his forearms and hands, before searching the property, looking for any valuables to steal.
Sick thieves have stolen seven puppies and slashed their mother (Zena, pictured) with a machete as they raided a flat this morning
After snatching cash, keys and a phone, they came across a litter of five-week-old Staffordshire cross puppies and their mother, Zena.
They shoved the puppies – four females and three males – in carrier bags and when Zena tried to defend her pups, she was hit on the head with a machete by one of the men, causing a deep laceration.
The offenders then fled the scene.
Masked robbers followed a man into his property on Fernclough Road, in Harpurhey, Manchester, at around 9.30am. The thieves came across the litter of Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross-breeds with their mother Zena (pictured) as they searched the flat
Police say the puppies are unlikely to survive after being taken from their mother at such an early age.
They are urging anyone with information to contact the force.
Detective Constable Nick Kershaw, of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: ‘We are urgently appealing for information which will help us locate the puppies which were stolen this morning.
‘The dogs are only five-weeks-old and without their mother they likely won’t survive very long so it is important that anybody with information that can assist, please contacts police as a matter of urgency.
‘This was an incredibly callous robbery, where the offenders showed absolutely no regard for the safety of anyone, human or animal, who was present at the time.
‘They only had one thing on their mind, which was to take whatever they could.
Police say the puppies are unlikely to survive after being taken from their mother at such an early age. Pictured: Fernclough Road
‘Please help us return these puppies and reunite them with their very sad mother, Zena, who has been left devastated.’
The offenders are described as black, skinny build and are believed to be in their 20s.
They were wearing dark clothing with the hoods up.
One of the men is thought to be around 6ft 3in – 6ft 4in tall and was wearing a grey and black camouflage mask.
His accomplice was slightly shorter and wearing a plain black face covering.