Police give a date for burglary clampdown

PCSOs Louise Cleary, Martin Smith and Chief Inspector George Fawcett with Sohail Ahmed and Arshad Mahmood from Rochdale Community Transport loading a van with the dates.

As Ramadhan continues throughout this month, Rochdale Police are working with Rochdale’s Community Transport to deliver dates and crime prevention advice to the Muslim community.

The dried fruit is being delivered to residents before evening prayers in a new tactic to tackle the rise in burglaries throughout communities in the Borough.

A number of mosques and community centres have been visited as part of the initiative with the help of Rochdale Community Transport who have been distributing the dates in special bags printed with advice and information on how to avoid becoming a victim of burglary.

Chief Inspector George Fawcett from Rochdale Division said: “Dates are traditionally eaten by the Muslim community to break their daily fast when the sun has set. The branded bags of dates is our way of reminding this community to make sure all doors and windows are locked and to avoid leaving valuables on display.

“Ramadhan is a very holy period for the Muslim community and we want to be able to ensure that those observing it can do so without running the risk of becoming a victim of crime.”

The activity has been organised under Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Storm initiative that is geared to driving down burglaries and increasing convictions.