Neighbourhood day of action across Greater Manchester sees 32 arrested as work to tackle vehicle theft continues

On Thursday 25 January, a dedicated operation to tackle neighbourhood crime, named Operation Acquire saw a day of action across the force to specifically target vehicle crime using a mix of tactics not only to target those responsible but also deploying officers and staff to crime prevention stalls to give out prevention advice to reduce vehicle crime in the first place.

The action during the day led to 32 arrests and numerous charges secured by neighbourhood crime team officers for various offences linked to vehicle crime across the force.

During the day of action, Bolton’s Neighbourhood Crime Team, conducted a warrant in Johnson Fold, where a 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicle offences and a 22-year-old man was arrested for drug offences.

In Oldham, Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Kate Green joined officers as they searched through a scrapyard in Chadderton alongside officers from our Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit on the lookout for high value car parts from recent vehicle thefts in the area.

Superintendent Danny O’Neil, of GMP’s Bolton district and also force lead for vehicle crime, said: “Most of us know someone who has been a victim of vehicle theft, and we understand how disruptive and distressing this type of crime can be and conducting days of focussed activity highlight our commitment to address this in Greater Manchester.

“The Operation Acquire day of action on Thursday gave us more dedicated resources alongside partnership work which has successfully added to our ability to target those responsible for this crime, further highlighted by these arrests and action conducted throughout the day.

“Although our commitment will continue to address vehicle theft in Greater Manchester, I would like to use this opportunity to remind the public to remain vigilant and ask yourself, are you doing all you can to deter criminals? Make it hard for them by following our vehicle crime prevention advice on our website. Keeping vehicles safe | Crime prevention | Greater Manchester Police (gmp.police.uk)

“We need intelligence from you to actively target those responsible, so I would like to encourage anyone with concerns to please come forward and make a report, whether this is through ourselves, or anonymously through Crimestoppers.”