Crime crackdown on Kirkholt Estate

Local officers hit the streets of Kirkholt in a targeted operation to turn up the heat on criminals and give residents timely crime prevention advice.

The intensive week of action saw police officers pull over suspect vehicles, gather intelligence from residents and offer help and advice.

And the operation has already yielded results with one man being arrested for suspected drugs offences and a stolen BMW being seized and returned to its owner.

Fifty eight homes were also identified as being insecure and their owners were spoken to by officers. And residents were able to speak to police in confidence at the mobile police station, known as the pod, before being issued with light timers to reduce the chances of them being burgled when they are out.

The police piled the pressure on suspected burglars on the estate, with visits being made to their addresses two to three times a day.

Michelle Hughes, Neighbourhood Inspector for Rochdale South, said: “These regular operations are a great opportunity to chat to our communities about their concerns and gather vital intelligence.

“We were really keen to get the home security message out as people still seem to be leaving their doors and windows open. In many of the examples we picked up we were able to just walk straight into the house to warn the owner because many had left their doors wide open. On one occasion, we actually found the householder asleep in bed upstairs.”

Other key crime prevention measures the team have been pushing in recent weeks are safeplating, the securing of number plates to prevent theft, and putting smart water on residents’ valuables, so they can be traced back to them if they’re stolen.

The next safeplate operations will be running on 6 October at Tesco in Silk Street, on 14 October at Hopwood Service Station in Castleton and on 2 October at Sandbrook Park. All safeplating operations take place between 9am and 3pm.

Anyone who is interested in having their property smart watered can contact the Rochdale South neighbourhood team on 0161 856 8549.