Knifeman hunted after mugging

From the Guardian Series, first published Thursday 6th Jun 2002.

DETECTIVES are appealing for the public's help in catching a thug who attacked a young man in Alsager.

The 21-year-old was visiting addresses in the town canvassing for newspaper sales when he was set upon.

The attacker threatened him with a Stanley knife, forcing him to hand over a palm personal computer worth £400.

Police are asking people from Alsager and Trentham who supplied personal details to the victim before the computer was stolen to be on their guard.

These details will be in the computer, and if accessed by the robber could be misused.

People who have supplied their details need to be cautious of cold callers to their home in person or by phone.

The man was attacked at 3.40pm on Thursday as he walked along West Grove.

After threatening the man with a knife the robber pushed him into a hedge, and ran off along West Grove towards Woodland Court and out of view towards Moorside Avenue.

The offender is white, about 23 years of age, five feet eight inches tall, with a "number one" grade skin head-style cut.

He had a day's growth of stubble around his mouth, as though he was growing a goatee beard.

He had a gold hoop earring in his left ear, and wore a gold ring, possibly a sovereign ring, on his right hand.

He wore a grass-coloured green hooded baggy sweatshirt top faded light blue jeans and black trainers or shoes.

The computer was a Compaq IPAQ 3630 Pocket PC, owned by Northcliffe Newspapers Group.

Anyone who has any information on the robbery should ring CID on 01244-613533.

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