Police storm in with new crackdown

BURGLARS are facing a stormy summer with the start of a police crackdown today.

Greater Manchester Police have pledged to leave no stone unturned in their fight to bring burglars to justice in a week of action labelled Operation Storm.

It will use intelligence gathered over the past few months to target burglars in their homes, in their communities and on the roads in a hard-hitting series of raids.

The force-wide clampdown is being co-ordinated by a newly-formed team of experienced senior officers dedicated to bringing down burglaries and putting offenders behind bars.

Officers will carry out raids on the homes of known and suspected burglars, target communities blighted by domestic burglary to disrupt and deter criminal activity and encourage residents to report suspicious behaviour.

And Operation Tornado, a new high-impact, concentrated version of traditional Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) activity, will target areas where burglars strike or live.

It involves supplementing roads policing officers with colleagues from the elite Tactical Vehicle Crime Unit (TVCU) using intercept vehicles and motor-cycles, neighbourhood officers with local knowledge and police and drug-detection dogs.

A hand-picked team will put checkpoints on all roads serving the chosen crime hotspot area and carry out roadside checks on all vehicles identified as suspect by the ANPR databases.

As well as bringing criminals to justice, the new unit will help to gather intelligence and raise confidence in the police.

A round-the-clock service from forensics means material gathered from burglaries can be turned around quickly and offenders taken out of circulation before they can commit more crimes.

Chief Supt Russ Jackson, who heads the fight against burglary, said: “Over the past few years we have developed an envious reputation for the investigation of serious and organised crimes.

“With Operation Storm, we are applying tactics and work practices developed in that area to burglary offences. Early indications are that it is and will continue to pay dividends in putting burglars behind bars.

“This new approach involves tasking a team of highly qualified and experienced senior police officers, forensics investigators and crime analysts to focus together on targeting the prolific offenders who are causing such misery to the people of our county.

“Operation Storm means that burglars can expect the heat to be turned up on them over the next few months with the likelihood of them ending the summer behind bars.”

Residents will be urged to help police to arrest burglars by providing information on 0161-872 5050 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800-555 1111.