Warning to homeowners - burglar alarm panels

Homeowners have been warned to beware of burglar alarm panels being offered to them in suspicious circumstances.

The warning comes after an offender posed as a legitimate customer and managed to get a consignment of alarm panels worth £15,000 delivered to his house.

Officers believe these panels could now be offered to homeowners across Greater Manchester at a knock-down price.

On 27 July 2012, an unknown offender placed an order with Manchester-based Honeywell systems for 400 burglar alarms.

Posing as a legitimate customer, the offender arranged for the alarms to be delivered to a warehouse in Manchester but when the consignment arrived no-one there had any knowledge.

At this point a courier arrived and took a phone call from the offender who told him to take the consignment home.

The offender then met the courier at his home in Sale, took the alarms, and left.

Officers are now warning about the dangers of purchasing stolen burglar alarms. The alarms in question are make and model Accenta 8SP399A with mini-gen LCD keypad.

Detective Constable Lee Attenborough of Stretford CID said: "Security is extremely important to all homeowner so it is imperative that you do not attempt to cut corners.

"These alarms will not be professionally fitted and will not come with a warranty so, in essence, they will offer very little long-term security.

"If you are offered one of these alarms in suspicious circumstances then please don't hesitate to get in touch."

Anyone with information is asked to call Stretford CID on 0161 856 7671 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.