A LANDLORD and his wife were tied up during a robbery at their Stretford pub.


The attack happened at the Melville Hotel, on Melville Road, at around 3am on April 14.


Three masked men used a ladder to climb through a first-floor window, before threatening the landlord and his wife with a machete, baseball bat and a baton.


The 43-year-old man was dragged to the safe and a large amount of cash was stolen before both victims were tied up with yellow cord.


The offenders left by a side door onto Melville Road.


Both victims managed to untie themselves and contacted the police.


The three males are described as white, between 5ft 6in and 6ft, wearing black balaclavas, dark clothing and gloves.


A metal ladder was later found propped up against the back wall which the offenders must have brought with them, or stolen from a neighbouring property.
 

Det Con Simon Johnson, based at Stretford, said: “To be woken in the dead of night by a trio of machete-wielding masked men must have been horrific.


“And the victims’ ordeals only got worse when they were tied up with washing line and left to fend for themselves.


“Thankfully, they managed to free themselves and they appeared to suffer no long-lasting physical effects. I now want to hear from anyone who can help in naming those who carried out this robbery.


“In particular I want to know where the ladder came from. Was it taken from your garden or did you see somebody with a large ladder in the area at the time?”


Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 9168 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.