west midlands police
Footage released of terrifying raid on woman's home West Midlands Police

Terrifying CCTV footage has been released of three men, who rammed a wheelie bin into a woman's home before threatening her at gunpoint.

Three men broke into the 37-year-old victim's home in Bosworth Drive, Chelmsley Wood at 11pm on Thursday 5 February.

The trio smashed patio doors to gain access to the house and threatened the victim with a firearm. They stole the victim's handbag and made off across gardens.

The men are described as being in their 20s. One was wearing a baseball cap, another a white woolly hat. Two of the men were wearing light grey/white clothes and a third was wearing a light grey body-warmer-style jacket.

The man in possession of a gun is described as black, while his two accomplices were white men.

DC Mark Delaney, from Solihull Police investigation team, said: "This was a frightening and distressing crime for the 37-year-old woman, who was alone in the house at the time.

"Our initial enquiries suggest that perhaps this was a case of mistaken identity, as the offenders seemed to be searching for something and eventually left with just the woman's bag.

"Thankfully no-one was hurt and the firearm was not discharged, with the men fleeing with just the bag containing a few pounds and personal items minutes after they broke into the property."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact CID at Solihull on 101 or information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.