Police urge public to shop peddlers of stolen goods

Greater Manchester Police is urging people to shop criminals selling stolen goods as part of its continuing drive to reduce burglaries and increase convictions.

Since 1 April last year the Force has reduced burglaries by more than 12%, meaning 2,250 fewer families falling victim to the crime when compared to the same period the previous year.

Over that time Greater Manchester Police has been successfully reversing an 18 month trend that had seen burglary rise by up to 10% in many forces across the UK.

Operation Storm was set up last summer to help local policing teams deliver tactics to decrease burglaries and increase convictions. These saw almost 900 burglars arrested in two weeks of action that took place in June and October last year.

Police are promising to continue this level of action through 2010 to put burglars and thieves out of business and behind bars.

They will now step-up the fight against criminals handling and selling stolen goods to stop them profiting from their crimes and are calling on the public to support them. They can do this by refusing to buy stolen goods and passing on information about suspected criminal activity to police directly on 0161 872 5050 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson who is leading Operation Storm said: “The simple fact is that if someone offers you a bargain that seems too good to be true it probably is.

“Behind every such bargain there is a victim, someone who has had their home violated, their confidence shattered and maybe even suffered an attack to bring you that knock-down lap top, mobile phone or piece of jewellery.

“The money you give will be used to support drug abuse and fuel further and possibly more serious and organised crime. Please help us to break that chain of offending, refuse to buy these goods and report your suspicions to us so we can ensure that crime does not pay and put these misery peddlers behind bars."