Overview
- An intruder entered a Roman Road home at about 5am on February 10, threatened an elderly couple with two kitchen knives, stole wallets and phones, and demanded bank cards and PINs.
- The offender ordered the husband to drink a mysterious black liquid he had brought, which the victim tasted then spat out, as the burglar stayed calm and softly spoken during a roughly 15-minute ordeal.
- Greater Manchester Police released a description of the suspect as a Black man about 6ft tall of large build with big curly hair, dressed in black with a yellow high‑visibility gilet.
- Detectives believe the incident is connected to another aggravated burglary in Royton, where an 82-year-old man was attacked, tied with cable, injured with a knife and robbed of his wallet.
- Officers report no signs of forced entry in the linked cases, have increased neighbourhood patrols, briefed Oldham Council and Adult Social Care, and are urging residents to lock doors and share information with GMP quoting log 39 of 16/02/2026.