There are 20 fewer burglary victims each day across Greater Manchester since May 2021 - 8,261 crimes were recorded in the year up to August 2026, down from 15,519 in May 2021 - including in Stockport (43%), Oldham (38%) and Bolton (36%).
July 2026 marked five years since they launched Operation Castle, GMP’s dedicated neighbourhood operation to tackle and reduce residential burglaries.
In July 2021, they pledged to send an officer to every reported domestic burglary, while utilising dedicated neighbourhood crime teams and forensic investigators to gather evidence.
They were recording around 1,500 residential burglaries per calendar month before Operation Castle launched. They have since seen a consistent downward trend to around 650 per month.
The operation works by using several resources across the force. If you are burgled, there are different teams who will be there to support you.
They have strengthened our neighbourhood policing capability by increasing the number of local neighbourhood beat officers, creating dedicated Neighbourhood Crime Teams made up of experienced Police Constables and Detective Constables, and establishing Neighbourhood Tasking Teams focused on identifying and arresting suspects as quickly as possible.
Alongside this, our Crime Scene Investigators attend and examine every residential burglary where they are required. Over the past 12 months on average, they attended 924 residential burglaries force wide per month.
They are continually seeing justice for victims of burglaries across Greater Manchester. Just last month, two men were sentenced to three years following a burglary in Hindley which occurred during a family funeral.
Also in September, five members of an organised crime group were sentenced for a combined total of over 30 years for their roles in a large-scale burglary conspiracy that targeted homes across Greater Manchester and resulted in more than £500,000 worth of property being stolen.
The organised crime group committed burglaries across Salford, Bury and Trafford between January 2024 and May 2025, with offenders repeatedly using the same method to identify and target properties.
Officers found the group were responsible for a sustained series of residential burglaries, targeting affluent households and seeking high-value items including gold jewellery - particularly family gold - designer handbags and other valuable possessions.
Detective Superintendent Paul Rollinson, who leads on Operation Castle for GMP, said: “It is very pleasing to see GMP top the table for forces nationally – tackling residential burglary remains a force priority.
“Before launching Operation Castle in July 2021, it was clear that we weren’t doing enough to support victims of burglaries. When the Chief Constable joined five years ago, he made a commitment that officers would attend every burglary scene. I am proud that we continually do this across the force.
“Burglary is a horribly intrusive crime but thanks to the collective efforts of our officers and staff, people in Greater Manchester are now less likely to be burgled and more likely to see offenders brought to justice.
"Behind these results are thousands of officers and staff working together across neighbourhood policing, investigations, forensics and specialist teams. Their dedication has helped drive burglary to its lowest levels in many years while delivering record levels of investigative success.
"Whilst we are proud of the progress made through Operation Castle, we are not complacent. We will continue to invest in neighbourhood policing, target persistent and organised offenders, and do everything possible to keep people, their families and their homes safe."
