Masked thieves armed with a 'meat cleaver' robbed a woman of her Rolex watch in broad daylight in a leafy Trafford village - while she was on the way to visit her dying father.
The 49-year-old woman was walking along Stamford Park Road in Bowdon when she was mugged by two men at around 4pm last Thursday (August 29).
The victim said the men jumped out of a car, threatened her with a meat cleaver and pulled the watch from her wrist.
They then attempted to yank a ring from her finger but gave up and moved on to her handbag.
She said they pushed her to the ground and grabbed her purse before making off in a large black car.
The woman, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, said her ordeal was all the more upsetting because the watch had been handed down to her by her elderly father, who died three days later.
The stolen Rolex Oyster, made of gold and stainless steel, is understood to be worth around £4,000.
"The shocking thing was that this happened in broad daylight," the woman said.
Read more of today's top stories
"I was staying in an Airbnb while visiting my dying father who was in a nearby nursing home.
"It was all so surreal and frightening.
"These two men jumped out this large black car and grabbed me. They were both masked and wearing gloves.
"They held a meat cleaver to my wrist and grabbed the watch.
"The way they did it was like a sequence - watch, jewellery, bag.
"They pushed me to the floor and my elbow bore the brunt of the fall.
"It's not like I'm a frail old woman either. I just couldn't believe it was happening.
"The watch is insured, but that's not the point.
"It was my father's watch, he gave it to me and I was wearing it because it belonged to him.
"For it to be taken in such a violent way is disgusting.
"It's like they targeted that area because it's wealthy."
The victim said four witnesses came to her aid followed by the police, who are investigating the theft.
The arrived and drove off in a black 4x4.
GMP said the incident was being investigated.
