Sorting office raiders handcuff men

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Police are hunting thugs who handcuffed two men during a robbery at a Tameside sorting office.

Shortly before 5.25am today (Thursday) a mail delivery driver pulled up in the yard at Droylsden sorting office on Craven Street.

As he left the van three men, possibly armed with a shotgun and a knife, walked into the yard, threatened the driver and handcuffed him to some furniture.

They then entered the sorting office where they ordered a female employee to lie on the floor and handcuffed another man.

They stole a large amount of registered items from the back of the van and left. It's not known if they left the scene in a vehicle or ran off.

The men managed to free themselves from the handcuffs before officers arrived.

No-one was injured in the incident, although staff were left shocked.

The first offender is described as black, about 5ft 8in tall with a medium or stocky build and wearing a red top and black trousers. He was wearing a bandana. The second robber was also black and stocky, wearing a light blue/grey top and blue jeans. A third offender was white and in his 50s. The second and third robber wore stockings on their heads.

Detective Constable Lee Butterworth of Tameside CID, said: "This inquiry is at a very early stage but I want to reassure people that we are already following up inquiries.

"Even though no-one was physically hurt, those involved were left shaken by their ordeal.

"The robbers made off with some registered post from the back of the delivery van but I want to reassure people that these items are automatically insured."

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Tameside CID on 0161 856 9255 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.