A masked thug held a gun to a resident's neck and attacked him with a hammer in a terrifying burglary in Middleton.
The burglar forced his way into a home on Hillcrest and threatened the occupant - a 65-year-old man - with a firearm.
He dragged the victim through his house to find a safe and repeatedly struck him to the head with a hammer, police said.
The man's wife was also at home at the time.
After failing to find the safe, the attacker took cash from his victim's wallet.
He fled from the back of the house in the direction of Hollins Lane.
The victim was thankfully only left with minor injuries.
The thug is described as male, approximately 6 foot 2 inches tall, wearing a black nylon jacket with a red stripe down the sleeve, a balaclava and black gloves.
Detectives are now appealing for anyone with information about the attack - which happened at around 5.55pm on Thursday, February 18 - to get in touch.
They particularly want to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time or who saw the offender before or after the incident.
Detective Sergeant Tim O'Callaghan of GMP’s Rochdale district, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim, whose wife was also in the property at the time.
"Thankfully there were no serious injuries following the burglary but they have been left, understandably, incredibly shaken by the ordeal.
“We’re appealing to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and saw the offender either before or after the incident.
"Did you witness anyone behaving suspiciously? Anyone with information, no matter how small, should get in touch with police.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 8511 quoting incident number 2137 of 18/02/21.
Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
