POLICE WANT TO speak to a group of people who posed for a mannequin challenge after two robberies in Salford.
At around 11.55pm on Monday 14 November 2016, a man was attacked on Fredrick Road, Salford by two men while two other men stood and watched near to the Salford Innovation Forum.
The victim saw the two men get out of a blue Ford Focus prior to the attack and return to the same vehicle after throwing the victim to the ground and stealing his gold-coloured iPhone 5s.
They demanded the password to the phone before driving off.
Around midnight the same day, just five minutes after the first robbery, and around a five-minute drive away from the first robbery, another man was sat at a bus stop on Eccles Old Road, outside the shops near to Salford Royal Hospital, when he was approached by three men.
They grabbed him and dragged him to the floor before taking his Samsung S7 Edge.
Similarly to the first robbery, the offenders demanded the password to the phone before getting into a blue Ford Focus and driving away.
Phone left behind
Officers launched an investigation and have since established the Ford Focus had been involved in eleven drive-offs from petrol forecourts across the Greater Manchester area, including Swinton and Middleton.
Later that day, officers stopped the car on Deansgate, Manchester City Centre and arrested the 22-year-old driver, Roger Bosion.
A search of the vehicle found a Samsung S7 Edge, a number of other mobile phones and debit cards. The owners of the phones are yet to be identified but all of the debit cards have been reported as stolen.
An examination of one of the phones revealed footage of two mannequin challenges that happened before and after the robberies took place.
Bosion was bailed until 13 December 2016 pending further enquiries however, he failed to return. A warrant has since been issued for his arrest and efforts were made to trace him.
Officers have now released the footage and want to speak to the group of people in connection with the two robberies.
Detective Constable Allan Barker of GMP’s Salford Borough, said: “These two robberies happened in such quick succession that there was no regard for the safety of the victims who were left shaken, upset and terrified.
“We have been following a number of enquiries but we have not yet been able to identify those responsible so it is imperative that we speak to the group of people in the footage to be able to move forward with the investigation.
“Boison is actively evading police arrest and may be in London or the surrounding areas.
If anyone knows where he is or if anyone has seen him, please get in contact with us as a matter of urgency.
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5361 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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