POLICE today said a gang of masked men who stole gold from Bradford homes in two "terrifying" knifepoint robberies last night may be linked to a crash near Bradford Royal Infirmary minutes later.

The gang used blades to threaten women, including a 79-year-old, into handing over gold and jewellery in both robberies. They also stole a BMW in the second raid. 

The first robbery occurred at a house in Weetwood Road just after 5pm yesterday when a group of four or five men wearing balaclavas forced their way in, grabbed a 26-year-old woman and threatened her.

The men demanded gold from the woman and her 54-year-old mother. Some of the group searched the house while the women were kept downstairs and forced at knifepoint to hand over jewellery, including gold bangles and wedding rings.

The women were left shaken and with minor injuries.

In the second incident, a group of men broke into a semi-detached house in Haworth Road at about 6.30pm and threatened a 24-year-old woman and her 79-year-old grandmother at knifepoint.

The men demanded cash and jewellery and searched the property before fleeing with a briefcase, watches and a jewellery box. They also stole a black BMW 318i.

The women were not injured, but left "extremely upset".

At about 6.40pm, police were called to a crash in Smith Lane after a blue Volvo V40 D2 crashed into a Ford Focus. Four men fled from the Volvo, which was carrying a false registration plate of R20 CJC and had been stolen from an address in York. They escaped through the grounds of Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Detective Inspector Ryan Bragg, of Bradford District CID, said today: "These are very serious incidents in which the women in both houses have been threatened at knifepoint in what must have been terrifying ordeals.

"It is fortunate none were seriously hurt and it is important we locate those responsible for both incidents, which we are linking, as quickly as possible."

He said police wanted to speak to any witnesses to either offence and to anyone who saw four men running away from the crash in Smith Lane or who saw four Asian men running away from the blue Volvo and into the grounds of BRI.

"Descriptions which we have so far for the suspects are that all were Asian, with one speaking Punjabi. All wore dark clothing expect one man who was wearing a grey tracksuit," said Det Insp Bragg.

"We are doing all we can to investigate these offences and I would ask anyone who has information to help us catch these men to contact Bradford CID on 101.

"Information can also be given to Crimestoppers, in total anonymity, on 0800 555 111."