Quiet cul-de-sac ‘most burgled’

A QUIET Oldham cul-de-sac — dubbed the country’s most burgled road — has seen an increase in break-ins, according to a controversial government website.

Residents in Matthew Close, Abbeyhills, were baffled by the suggestion that they lived in a crime hotspot when the Home Office website claimed there were 18 burglaries in December with 55 crimes overall.

Figures for January have now been released showing crime has soared with 19 recorded burglaries in the road, as well as 18 violent crimes and 12 vehicle thefts among its 82 recorded incidents.

Armdale Rise, Waterhead, was also cited in December as one of the worst streets in Britain for burglary with 14 break-ins and seven violent crimes among its 47 incidents. January’s figures show an increase in crimes there to 74 with 13 burglaries and 17 violent crimes.

But police say the figures include crimes from near-by streets.

Chief Supt Tim Forber, Divisional Commander for Oldham Police, said there had been only one burglary in each street last year and he did not believe there had been a sudden spate.

The website at www.police.uk  reckons Lord Street in Oldham is Greater Manchester’s most crime-ridden road with 142 incidents in January, including 37 violent crimes and 11 burglaries. Greenacres Road had the highest levels of burglaries in Greater Manchester at 27 — almost one a day.

The website has faced a storm of criticism since it was launched.