A man was horrified to find an intruder standing over his girlfriend as she slept. Craig - who has asked to only be referred to by his first name - had to throw punches at the would-be burglar to get him to hand over items he'd pocketed.
The 33-year-old then bundled the man out of his 10th-floor Stockport flat. Police have confirmed they are hunting the man, who Craig says has left his partner 'badly shaken' and him feeling unsafe in his own home.
The drama unfolded early on Tuesday morning (April 25) when Craig went out to walk his dog as his partner, who doesn't live with him but was staying the night, carried on sleeping in the bedroom of his flat in Ludlow Towers in Brinnington.
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When he returned around 15 minutes later, at around 5.40am, the front door, which he had closed, was ajar. Craig she said he immediately 'knew something was wrong'.
But it wasn't until his dog ran into the flat and started barking that Craig started to suspect someone may be inside. He said: "I followed her into the room and I found this guy just stood in my bedroom, right next to my missus who was still asleep, filling his pockets with my belongings.
"He was ruffling about in his pockets. He didn't actually know I was there until he turned around and went white as a ghost.
"I said to him something 'why the hell are you here?'
"I asked him to empty his pockets. He refused at first. I had the dog lead in my hand and I smacked him a couple of times. My missus woke up to me throwing punches at this guy. She thought it was me at first as I wear a black tracksuit like he was.
Craig said the man did eventually empty his pockets and handed over his partner's car keys, purse and mobile phone.
"My missus was really worked up when she realised what was happening and was just screaming, 'get him out, get him out'," he added.
"I was happy I'd that I'd got my belongings back, so I just bundled him out and chucked him out into the hallway.
"Looking back now I wonder if I should have pinned him down or locked him a room until the police arrived, but at the time I just wanted my belongings back and I wanted him out."
No arrests have been made.
"It's just not something you ever expect to happen," Craig added. "My missus is pretty shaken up as you would be. She's told me she's been having nightmares about it. She's taking each day as it comes."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said an investigation was ongoing.
Executive director of operations at Stockport Homes, John Bowker, said: "Here at Stockport Homes, we are committed to the safety of all our customers and tenants.
"We take police incidents very seriously and are working closely with GMP to assist in the investigation of this matter.
"We want to assure all of our tenants that our priorities of tackling anti-social behaviour and creating safer neighbourhoods across the Borough remain intact.
Anyone with footage or information which may be able to help officers is asked call GMP on 0161 856 2220 quoting incident number 351 of 23/04/23. Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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