Gang raids: Emergency meeting after fourth attack

E-fit after Thorncliffe Road robbery in Batley

And after four attacks in a week, Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox called for calm as she plans to meet with senior police officers.

Three men broke into a pensioner’s home on Purlwell Lane, Batley, assaulted her and stole cash and jewellery on Tuesday, November 17.

On the same evening, a woman, 23, was pushed to the floor by a man who then stole her car on Ringshaw Drive, Gomersal.

Two days later, a man was attacked by a gang of masked men with a plank of wood before they raided his home on Thorncliffe Road, Batley.

And masked men threatened an elderly couple with a gun at their home on South Street, Dewsbury, on Monday, November 23.

Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox called an emergency meeting at the Pakistan and Kashmir Welfare Association centre.

She said: “I have been in touch with some of the victims who are very concerned about these incidents.

“I understand the worry, upset and anger within the community about what has happened and following last week’s meeting I have organised a meeting to discuss it further with Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff.

“We will meet with the police and crime commissioner, senior police officers and community leaders.”

In the first incident, three men went to the 76-year-old woman’s home on Purlwell Lane. They asked her for the keys to the car which was parked on her driveway.

When she refused, the men kicked down the door and assaulted her. They then stole cash and jewellery and left in a grey coloured Range Rover.

Two days later, five masked men entered a house on Thorncliffe Road and threatened a 53-year-old man and his family.

The gang assaulted him with a plank of wood, before making off with a mobile phone, jewellery, cash and the keys to the family vehicle.

The man was treated in hospital for serious injuries.

And on Monday, four masked men forced their way into a house on South Street, Dewsbury, and threatened an elderly couple, both 81, with what police believe to be guns.

The suspects then made off with cash.

Call police on 101.