Tackling burglary in Oldham

Police in Oldham are handing out property marking kits to residents as part of their ongoing fight against burglary.

Chief Superintendent Chris Bowen joined officers on patrol yesterday (31 May 2022) as they spoke to residents about burglary and the steps they can take to keep their homes secure.

Burglary is a priority for GMP, and as part of Operation Castle, a commitment has been made to send a police officer to every residential burglary, ensuring a full investigation takes place.

In Oldham, a dedicated burglary team was introduced in November 2021. The team is responsible for proactively pursuing those suspected of being involved in burglary. 

In the last six months, over 40 people have been arrested for burglary offences and detection rates have doubled.

Chief Superintendent Chris Bowen said: “We understand that burglary is one of the most intrusive types of crimes you can experience. Your home is place you should feel safe, and it is unacceptable for anybody to make you feel otherwise.

“Burglary is a priority for the Force and us in Oldham, and we are fully committed to taking robust action against those involved in this type of crime, ensuring all available lines of enquiry are pursued and offenders are brought to justice.

"Our teams have been out supporting our community, giving them technology that proves who property belongs to. Whilst we will do everything we can to prevent it, if you should be unfortunate enough to be burgled, we can identify the property as belonging to you, prosecute an offender and return it to you. These kits have been funded through our Crime Reduction Partnership.

“As the warm weather approaches, we need your help to make life harder for thieves and keep Oldham safe. If you’re out enjoying the sunshine, please make sure windows and doors are locked. Use an alarm if you have one, and if you’re heading out or on holiday, use light timers to give the impression the house is occupied. Advice on how to keep your home safe from burglary can be found here.

“If you have information that will help us to bring burglars and handlers of stolen goods to justice, there are a number of ways to contact GMP, via the LiveChat or reporting function on our website, by calling 101 or by speaking to your local officers or PCSOs. You can also pass on information anonymously through CrimeStoppers by calling 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”