Rise in number of burglaries sparks police crackdown in Wigan

Plain clothes and uniformed patrols have been stepped up in the town in response to the increase backed up with leafleting in some areas.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “Our PCSO teams have conducted leaflets drops in some repeat locations around elderly residents and bungalows as many of these residents may not be on social media, so the leaflet drops are a good way of sending out that message.”

Over recent days there have been numerous incidents, which included a car being seized by police after they believed it was involved in a number of burglaries in Wigan.

Officers were called to Gauntley Gardens in Orrell, on Monday night to reports of men breaking into cars. Detectives believe they were using the keyless scanning entry method to break into vehicles.

The would-be thieves ran off when patrols arrived at the scene, leaving behind a white Nissan Juke on false plates. Police said the car, which will be forensically analysed, is the same as one stolen in Billinge several weeks ago.

There has also been a spate of break-ins around Standish in Prospect Road, Sheldon Avenue and Bentham Road, and several burglaries in Golborne, with neighbourhood teams out in the area on foot and in vehicles to deal with the prolems.

In Ashton there has been a series of break-ins of both cars and houses recently, where areas including Stubshaw Cross, Diane Road estate, Moxon Way/Wooton Drive and Cansfield Grove have been targeted. Elsewhere, a dog was snatched from Castle Hill Road, Hindley, last Tuesday.

The seven-year-old female rough-haired blue Greyhound Whippet-Bedlington Terrier called Socks, was taken at around 3.45pm by three unknown males in a vehicle. She has white feet and a small white spot on her chest, and is around 20 to 21ins in height.

Another shocking incident saw a Ford Edge stolen from Bryn at around 4.10am last Friday.

Inside the vehicle there was a specialised wheelchair which belonged to the owners disabled son – and officers are keen to reunite the wheelchair with its owner.

If you know the whereabouts of the Ford Edge or wheelchair contact police on 101 quoting crime reference CRI/06LL/0001931/21. The crime reference number for the missing dog is CRI/06LL/0001639/21.

To report any other crimes call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.