Patrols mounted to rein in burglaries

ALL geed up . . . police horses on Uppermill High Street

MOUNTED police have been drafted in following a series of raids on Saddleworth businesses.

Horses are now on patrol in the evenings after a spate of break-ins and robberies.

Superintendent Denise Worth, of GMP’s Oldham division, said: “The horses are a fantastic police presence for us. They create great engagement opportunities with the public and they are a great deterrent.”

Officers and PCSOs also plan to introduce a Business Watch scheme. Supt Worth added: “Burglary is a crime of community concern and is a priority for us due to the distress and fear it can cause with individuals and the community as a whole.”

There were 27 linked commercial offences across Oldham from November 1, 2015, to February 10 this year — compared with 14 in the same period a year ago. Since February 10, there has only been one linked offence in Saddleworth, which led to an arrest. More arrests have since followed.