Boy pleaded ‘don’t shoot my granddad’ as ‘gun held at head’ by robbers | UK News

A young boy and his granddad were held at gunpoint by a gang of armed robbers who stormed the family home in broad daylight.

The intruders also allegedly put a knife to his 71-year-old grandma’s neck during the raid, in which they demanded cash and jewellery.

CCTV captured six men entering the home in Walsall, in the West Midlands, just before 12.30pm on Wednesday and leaving 11 minutes later with a Rolex, jewellery and two sets of car keys.

A 45-year-old man, whose son and parents were inside the home, said the gang grabbed the boy and threatened to ‘tie him up and strangle’.

‘These guys had guns, they put a gun to his head and they put a knife to my mum’s throat. Then they put a gun to my dad’s head,’ he said.

‘My son was pleading with them “please don’t shoot my granddad, don’t stab my grandma”. He was crying and screaming but they weren’t bothered.’

The group allegedly demanded cash from the family and when they were told there was no cash kept at the home, they demanded it be arranged.

The dad said he feared the men, who also came equipped with cable ties, would have tied up his family and continued their attack in the home ‘for hours’ if his brother had not turned up 10 minutes into the ordeal.

‘They came at 12.23pm, my brother turned up at 12.33pm,’ he said. 

‘They walked him back into the house and said “if you want to see your parents alive, shut your mouth and get back inside”.’

However, the man believed his brother’s arrival spurred the gang to leave in case others showed up, taking a Rolex, two bangles, a chain, two pendants and his mum and brother’s car keys.

The intruders allegedly first attempted a getaway in his mum’s Mercedes which was in the driveway, but it failed as it had an immobiliser.

It is thought they then tried to take his brother’s Range Rover which also had an immobiliser, forcing them to flee on foot.

The ordeal has left a lasting impact on the family, the man said, especially his young son.

He added: ‘It has scarred my son for life. We went back to my parent’s house this morning and he was scared to go back inside the house.

‘My mum has been awake all night, she says she keeps seeing the same people over and over again.’

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: ‘We are investigating an aggravated robbery at a home on Athlone Road, Park Hall, shortly after 12.30pm on Wednesday where a group of men armed with weapons entered the property and made threats to a woman and a boy. 

‘We are aware of CCTV footage circulating on social media showing a number of men trying to steal a Range Rover from the drive before running off.’

Anyone who may have any information is encouraged to call 101 quoting crime investigation number 20/822417/23.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.