A group of "prolific thieves" thought to have stolen catalytic converters from SEVEN boroughs in Greater Manchester rammed into a police car before throwing a power tool at officers during a chase.
Officers from GMP were out on patrol in the Oldham area yesterday afternoon, December 15, when they spotted a suspicious Volkswagen Jetta, believed to be on a set of cloned number plates.
The car has been involved in recent thefts, which officers believe are part of a series across Manchester, Salford, Bury, Tameside, Stockport, Oldham, and Rochdale.
Police followed the car, and started to chase it across Oldham and Rochdale after the occupants noticed they were being tailed.
The Jetta driver tried to ram police during the chase, whilst a balaclava-clad passenger threw a heavy metal object, believed to be a power tool, towards the vehicle.
After being chased for ten minutes, the car was abandoned in Rochdale, with the people inside running off.
A spokesperson for GMP said: "One of our officers followed a suspicious Volkswagen Jetta on the afternoon of Wednesday December 15 after a series of recent reports of catalytic converter thefts.
"The car - believed to be on cloned plates - is said to have been involved in these incidents of late, during which offenders are understood to have been armed with weapons.
"During the pursuit, the driver of the VW Jetta tried to ram the police car while a passenger wearing a balaclava threw a heavy metallic object - believed to be a power tool - towards the officer's vehicle in an unsuccessful attempt to disable it.
"No arrests have been made and investigators are continuing to probe the series of thefts that have featured offenders brazenly stealing convertors in broad daylight, whilst holding weapons and wearing masks, to intimidate and threaten victims."
Any information about the thefts, or the identity of those involved in the chase, has been urged to get in touch with police.
Details can be passed to GMP online, or via 101 quoting incident 1373 of December 15.
Alternatively, information can be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
