Crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is today offering a reward of up to £5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the serious assault of a 76 year old grandmother in Overtown, Lanarkshire. [28 March 2012]

The incident took place on Thursday 22 March at around 5.20am. The victim was at her flat in Overdale Place when the forcibly intruders kicked down her front door.

She was then attacked in her hallway with a bladed weapon and what is thought to be a bat. The extreme violence and serious nature of this assault has left the victim maimed with serious head injuries and with two broken arms.

Trying to escape the attackers the victim ran onto the street, where the group chased her and continued the attack. The four male attackers, all white, were either wearing hooded tops or had scarves over their faces, one was described as particularly heavily built.

The four men ran off after the victim’s neighbors were alerted to her screams.

Crimestoppers National Manager for Scotland, Kate Jackson, said:

“This is a very serious assault that has left a mother of six maimed and with fractured bones. The sickening violence of this attack needs immediate positive reaction by the public through giving information on this crime so the heartless individuals responsible can be served justice.

“We are urging the public to call us anonymously with any information they have on this savage crime. Anything you saw or heard that Thursday morning could be of invaluable use to us.

“Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers anonymously on our 0800 555 111 number or use our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”

Individuals will only qualify for a reward by passing on information anonymously to Crimestoppers through its 0800 555 111 number.

-ENDS-

For more information on Crimestoppers please contact PR & Media Officer Giselle Lares on 0208 835 3737 or email Giselle.Lares@crimestoppers-uk.org

• Information given directly to the police will not qualify
• Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
• Around 23 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.  
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 113,000 arrests and charges. Over £122 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £223 million worth of drugs has been seized.  
• In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 1,000 arrests to date.
• Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees, who in 1988 launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers’ ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.

•   If claimed, the reward can be paid via the anonymous Crimestoppers reward system or, if the caller becomes known to the police, then appropriate arrangements can be made.
•   Information given through our secure online form or directly to the police will not qualify.
• Reward will be offered for three months from 26 March 2012.