Police in driving seat on vehicle crime

A man steals a handbag from the back seat of a car

The number of vehicle crimes has been halved in north Rochdale thanks to a police crackdown.

While Operation Puffin ran from 23 to 29 June there were just seven incidents in the hotspots of Norden and Spotland & Greave, consisting of five ‘theft from vehicle’ and two ‘theft of vehicle’ offences.

This compares to 14 incidents during the previous seven days, meaning seven fewer victims and a drop of 50 per cent.

Inspector James Troisi of the Rochdale North Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “This initiative was launched in response to a number of thefts involving cd players, cash, mobile phones and registration plates being stolen from vehicles.

“By maintaining a high-profile presence on the streets and targeting known offenders we managed to cut the number of incidents by half, but motorists can help us to reduce vehicle crime even further by remembering not to leave valuables on display in their cars.”
Police also arrested 15 people during the week on suspicion of vehicle crime offences, drink driving, going equipped to steal and handling stolen goods, and a search warrant resulted in 32 suspected stolen car items being seized along with other vehicle parts.

In addition, 144 vehicles were fitted with anti-theft number plates to deter criminals, and a mobile police station staffed by community support officers was located in hotspots to provide crime prevention advice and reassurance to residents.

To report crime online, visit:

www.gmp.police.uk

Telephone police: 0161 872 5050

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111