Man arrested following city investigation into stolen vehicles

GMP’s City Centre Central Neighbourhood Crime Team have made an arrest after an investigation into vehicle thefts in the Piccadilly area of Manchester City Centre.

As a result of the investigations officers have been able to identify and recover a Mercedes motor vehicle and will be reuniting the vehicle with it’s owner.

One man aged 37 years was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicles and remains in police custody for questioning.

Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald, of GMP’s City Of Manchester Central Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “Across the City Centre, we are actively targeting criminal networks and tackling crimes that matter the most to those in our communities and this a really great example of proactive police work and fantastic work from all officers involved which has meant that one man has been arrested and stolen vehicles recovered as well as a large amount of cash.”

To keep your vehicle protected follow GMP’s crime prevention advice:

1. Lock your vehicle - locking your vehicle, even when filling up or parked on your drive, greatly reduces the possibility of it being targeted. Even if you have locked your vehicle, check you haven’t left any windows or the sunroof open.
2. Keep the keys safe by keeping it out of view when at home and away from your front door. It’s not uncommon for car keys to be stolen from inside your home by thieves fishing for them with a stick and hook through the letterbox.
3. Protecting your car from keyless entry thefts - when at home keep your car key (and the spare) well away from the car, put the keys in a screened or signal-blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag.
4. Steering locks are a huge visible deterrent. Criminals will often take a look at it and walk away because of the time and effort it takes to get it off. Most thefts of vehicles are quick and can be done in seconds so anything to reduce how fast they can steal will help.

Anyone with information about theft from vehicles is asked to contact police online, if able, via www.gmp.police.uk or call 101 quoting incident 000776 of 05/072023. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.