Frighteners put on known crooks

HALLOWE’EN was a scary time for crooks with Oldham police making 16 arrests in a crackdown on burglars.

Officers also made 30 bail and curfew checks on known offenders in the three-day crackdown.

The Oldham figures form part of the Greater Manchester total of 89 arrests and 390 bail and curfew checks reported in yesterday’s Evening Chronicle.

The enforcement activity was to combat an expected seasonal increase in offences linked to the onset of darker evenings and Christmas.

Crime-reduction advisers and PCSOs also visited more than 690 addresses across the borough to advise residents to leave lights on during late afternoons and early evenings to deter burglars seeking empty properties to target.

The crackdown was part of Operation Storm that was set up in July, 2009, to reduce burglaries, robberies and car theft. Since then it has helped to make 3,258 arrests.

But officers warn that while burglaries continue to decrease, residents need to stay on their guard to avoid falling victim to the distressing crime.

Chief Supt Tim Forber, head of Oldham police, said: “Burglary dropped by 6.6 per cent in the six months between April and September this year when compared with the same period last year — that’s 54 fewer victims. These are great results but one victim is one too many.

“I am determined to ensure our residents feel safe in their own homes and through crackdowns such as this one we will continue to target these heartless criminals to stop them spreading misery in our communities.

“Residents can play their part by following simple crime-reduction advice and reporting suspicious activity to us either directly on 0161-872 5050 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.

“Leaving a light on, using timer switches, setting your burglar alarm and shutting and locking all doors and windows could save you coming home to a nasty shock.”