MASKED robbers dragged an elderly woman from a car at gunpoint after carrying out a terrifying armed raid.
The two men, who had a machete and what is believed to have been a handgun, carried out the robbery at the Asda supermarket on Bolton Road, Atherton.
They broke into the store using a crowbar just after 7pm yesterday before pointing the gun at a shop worker as they filled a bag with cigarettes.
The staff member moved out of their way and was not injured.
The raiders then fled along Bolton Road in a dark coloured Vauxhall Vectra before crashing into another car in High Street.
A 65-year-old woman, who was in the second car, was treated for shock at the scene by paramedics.
The pair fled on foot towards Atherton Baptist Church, Tyldesley Road, where they held up a red Ford Fiesta at gunpoint before dragging a 75-year-old woman from the car.
They then made off towards Hindley in the vehicle.
Detective Sergeant Nigel Rigby, from Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan borough division, condemned the robbers’ ‘brutal’ tactics.
He said: “These men demonstrated an inexcusable level of violence, all for stealing cigarettes.
“Their use of weapons was brutal and their actions have left a number of people extremely shaken and concerned for their safety.
“We will not tolerate members of our community being targeted in this way and we are appealing for anyone who may have any information that could assist our investigation to please come forward.”
The men are described as white and of stocky build.
One of them was wearing a dark blue jacket with the hood up, black jogging bottoms, black and white trainers and gloves.
The other was wearing a brown jacket with brown trousers and gloves.
Both men wore balaclavas.
Asda is helping police with their attempts to trace the pair.
A spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident at our Atherton store and we are assisting the police with their enquiries.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 1,994 of November 19, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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