Parents have been issued with a warning and told to be 'vigilant' after brazen thieves stole a mum's car keys as she dropped her children off at school on Tuesday morning (June 28).
The terrifying robbery, reported outside the Broadfield Primary School in Oldham, saw the keys snatched out of the mums' hand as her one-year-old was still sat inside.
The victim, aged in her 30s, then managed to grab her one-year-old child from the vehicle before the thieves sped off from the scene in the direction of Belgrave Road and onto Scottfield Road shortly after 9am.
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In a letter issued by the school and shared with the Manchester Evening News, parents have been told to 'vigilant' when dropping off and collecting their children at the school and to 'never leave children unattended in the car'.
And a statement from the principal Elizabeth Moran said following the 'unprecedented incident' they have been in contact with the police and offered 'internal support services' to the family involved.
"I heard about it from my husband who dropped the kids off yesterday morning," one parent told the M.E.N on Wednesday afternoon. "It's scary to think something like this can happen when you're literally just bringing your children to school in a morning."
After learning about the incident, another parent said: "Oh my gosh, that's absolutely awful. I didn't know about it, this is the first I am hearing - but my son has only been coming here for a few weeks, so we are new to the area, and haven't had any problems in a morning."
A dad, whose children attend the school and who himself was a pupil there decades ago, added: "I have lived here for thirty years. I couldn't believe it when I heard, in all my time here nothing has ever happened. It's a very quiet area.
"Even I went to this school years ago. It could've happened anywhere and was a one off. The first I knew about it was when my neighbours told me the police had been round to their house and knocking on doors."
The letter, sent home to parents after the terrifying incident on Tuesday and seen by the M.E.N, informed them of the incident that occurred outside the gates. "A car was stolen, from a parent, directly outside Broadfield Primary at 9.15am this morning" it read.
"I would like to reassure you that the police attended and the culprits were apprehended with the car and everyone involved is safe.
"Please be vigilant when dropping off and collecting your children and never leave children unattended in the car even for a short time. If you have any concerns, please speak to a member of staff for reassurance."
After two males ran off from the scene, police officers arrested a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of robbery. He remains in police custody, Greater Manchester Police have confirmed. The vehicle was seized for forensic investigation, with the victim currently being supported by officers.
In a statement to the Manchester Evening News, headteacher Elizabeth Moran, said: "This was an unprecedented incident near our school. We have been in contact with the police and have offered our internal support services to the family involved. We have also reinforced some key safety messages with our school community".
Chief Inspector Abi Cronin of Greater Manchester Police’s Oldham District, said: “In Oldham we are actively targeting criminal networks and tackling crimes that matter the most to those in our communities and this a really great example of proactive police work and the quick response from all officers involved meant that one male was arrested and the vehicle was recovered.
“We will continue to target those who commit such crimes in our area and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. Our officers work relentlessly day and night to help protect the public from incidents like these, and in the occasions that they occur, we will always endeavour to be first to the scene to do what we can to bring an incident to a safe conclusion.
“Our enquiries are continuing in regard to this investigation and we will not stop until all those who we believe are responsible have been brought to justice. Although we have made one arrest in relation to this incident, our enquiries are very much ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact us with any details they may have that could be relevant to this investigation."
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police online, if able, via www.gmp.police.uk or call 101 quoting incident 899 of 27/6/2023. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
