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Supermarket ram-raid caught on camera

Annette Lord
17/12/2007

THIS is the dramatic moment when raiders used a road roller to try to smash their way into a supermarket.

Caught on CCTV, the robbers are pictured driving the yellow construction vehicle into a side wall of the Asda store in Stanley Grove, Longsight.

The footage has been released by police in a renewed bid to trap the culprits, who also viciously assaulted a security guard during the raid on 2 October.

They attacked the 30-year-old guard over the head with a heavy object, leaving him with a fractured skull.  He collapsed and was critical in hospital but has since been discharged.

Most visible in the released footage is a young man attempting to hide his face from a one of the store's cameras minutes before the 1.30am ram raid. He is being sought in connection with the incident.

Five figures are seen running away empty-handed when the machine failed to break through the wall into the store. 

Detective Inspector Pete Marsh, of Longsight CID, said: "This was a nasty attempted robbery in which the offenders brutally attacked a security guard who was only doing his job.

"They intended to steal the road roller to break into the store and clearly felt that the security guard got in the way of this.

"These people were clearly dangerous and we need the public's help to trace them."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information can call Longsight CID on 0161 856 4264 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Click on the video window to see the footage ...