Operation Vulcan arrest man following robberies against vulnerable people in city centre

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 11 June) Operation Vulcan deployed to Piccadilly Gardens to locate a man that we believed to be responsible for several robberies against vulnerable people in Manchester city centre.

On Saturday 1 June we received a report that a homeless man, who was asleep, was punched in the face and had his phone stolen.

On Thursday 6 June we received a report that an elderly man had a cup of hot coffee thrown over him, was pushed to the ground, and had his phone stolen.

An investigation was immediately launched by specialist detectives from our Operation Vulcan team, and patrols were ramped up in the area to identify the suspect.

Yesterday afternoon, a 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of robbery, going equipped to steal, and possession of class A drugs. We also recovered bolt cutters and several snap bags of drugs.

Detective Sergeant Matt Donnelly from Operation Vulcan said: “Two vulnerable people were targeted for their mobile phones and were injured in the process. I hope this arrest sends a clear message that we will investigate this kind of crime thoroughly and ensure those responsible face the consequences of their actions.

“Incidents like this can have a long-lasting negative impact on the lives of those who fall victim to it. We will continue to use all resources available to protect victims of crime, pursue offenders, and ensure Piccadilly Gardens continues to be a safe and attractive place to visit in the heart of our city.”