Police News - Rochdale East

Inspector Niall Pawson, Rochdale East

If you own a Mercedes Vito van please be aware that thefts of exhausts and also catalytic converters from Mercedes Vito vans are currently prevalent.

Crime figures for the week:

Littleborough Lakeside - Burglary 0
No burglaries recorded on the Littleborough Lakeside ward last week.

Burglary Other - 0
Theft of Vehicle - 0
Theft From Vehicle - 2
Criminal Damage - 0
Drugs Offences – 0

Wardle – Burglary – 0
No burglaries recorded on the Wardle ward last week.

Burglary Other - 1
Theft of Vehicle - 0
Theft from Vehicle – 1
Other Theft - 1
Criminal Damage - 1
Drugs Offences – 0

Milnrow/Newhey – Burglary – 1
Beechfield Road
21 October between 10:00 and 10:30
An offender damaged a door to try to gain entry but was disturbed and made off.

Burglary Other - 4
Theft of Vehicle - 1
Theft From Vehicle - 0
Criminal Damage - 1
Drugs Offences – 1

Smallbridge & Firgrove – Burglary – 2
Alexander Drive
24 October between 10:00 and 12:27
Offenders have entered the premises by smashing a door and stole a black laptop.

Roch Street
24 October between 12:50 and 13:15
The offenders entered the rear of the property by forcing the door and stole items including jewellery and money.

Burglary Other - 0
Theft of Vehicle – 0
Robbery - 0
Theft From Vehicle - 1
Criminal Damage - 5
Drugs Offences – 1

Kirkholt/Balderstone – Burglary – 2

Kildare Crescent
Between 24 October at 10:00 and the 27 October at 08:00
Offender/s prised open a bedroom window to gain entry and stole the boiler, a heater and a chest of drawers.

Kildare Crescent
29 October at 04:20
Offenders entered an address via an unlocked door, took car keys and then stole the victim’s car.

Robbery - 0
Burglary Other - 0
Theft of Vehicle -0
Theft From Vehicle -1
Criminal Damage - 1
Drugs Offences – 0

Castleton – Burglary - 4
Knoll Street
Between 29 October at 23:00 and 30 October at 04:30
Offenders approached the front door and pushed an implement through key hole causing keys to fall from the door lock to floor. The offenders reached through the letter box to the keys and once inside the property took car keys and then stole the victim’s car.

Manchester Road
24 October at19:25
Offenders tried to break into the property by smashing the door, however they were unable to gain entry.

Manchester Road
24 October between 07:20 and 19:45
Offenders entered a property by forcing the door and stole items including shotguns.

Eskdale Avenue
23 October between 17:00 and 22:30
Offenders smashed a glass door to gain entry and tried to steal property but were disturbed.

Burglary Other – 0
Robbery - 0
Theft of Vehicle - 0
Theft From Vehicle - 5
Criminal Damage - 1
Drugs Offences – 0

Kingsway - Burglary – 6
Weston Avenue
Between 30 October 20:00 and 31 October 02:20
Offender smashed a window to gain entry and stole jewellery.

Margaret Avenue
29 October 21:24
Offenders entered the property by prising open door; it is unknown at present what property was stolen.

Turf Hill Road
29 October between 18:00 and 21:00
Offenders entered the property by forcing doors and once inside spray painted the walls.

Clara Gorton Court
27 October at 07:00
Offender forced the front door but was disturbed and made off.

Moss Mill Street
Between 24 October 23:00 and 27 October 11:00
Offenders entered the property and caused extensive damage.

Penistone Avenue
Between 23 October 18:30 and 24 October 07:00
Offender entered the insecure property, took keys and stole the victim’s vehicle.

Burglary Other – 2
Robbery - 0
Theft of Vehicle - 0
Theft From Vehicle - 0
Criminal Damage - 4
Drugs Offences – 2

Crime Prevention
Door Step Crime 

Some criminals won’t go to the trouble of breaking into your home if they can just knock and be invited in. They either distract the resident while they steal items or trick the person into paying too much for a simple job.

A victim of this sort of crime is most frequently:

• An elderly person
• Female
• Living alone
• Targeted after bereavement

A study into the impact of doorstep crime on older victims has shown that their health declines faster than non-victims of a similar age. The study also found that victims of doorstep crime are 2.4 times more likely to be in residential care two years after the burglary than their non-burgled neighbours.

To avoid this:

• Always look to see who is at the door before you open it - if you do not have glass in your front door, fitting a spy-hole door viewer will help. 
• Install an outside light over your door to help you see any callers. 
• Bogus callers come in many shapes and sizes. They could be children, women, and men in all types of clothing - from overalls to suits. 
• Consider signing up to a Nominated Neighbour scheme. Arrange with a trusted neighbour or a member of your family who lives nearby to be your “Nominated Neighbour”. They will help confirm the identity of any person who calls at your door and accompany them into your home while they speak to you. 

Nominated Neighbourhood Scheme information - Contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to get involved. 

Office of Fair Trading "Your Doorstep, Your Decision" campaign

GMP supports the www.doorstepcrime.net website which offers advice for the public and partners across Greater Manchester.

Bogus officials
Officials from gas, electriciy and water companies never need to come into your home to test water pressure or repair a leak, even in an emergency. If for some reason they do need access, they will always send you a letter to make an appointment.

The genuine meter readers from want you to check their identity before letting them in. Check their identity card. If in doubt ring up and confirm that the caller is genuine.

Consider signing up to a password scheme - every time a meter reader calls they have to give the password you have arranged. The scheme is free. More advice can be found here:

United Utilities - 0845 746 2200
British Gas have a PDF guide to genuine callers - 0800 072 8625
npower have a PDF guide to genuine callers - 0845 602 6363
AgeUK guide to Bogus Callers

Bogus repairers
Bogus repairers can and do use a very good and insistent sales patter to get you to use them straight away. If you haven’t had your drains cleaned or your roof fixed for many years, then another day or two while you get another estimate won’t make any difference. If you need to get the building work done, get several written quotes from trustworthy or recommended firms and then decide who is right for you. 

Trustmark - a directory of firms that fulfill government endorsed standards
Trading Standards Institute
The Office of Fair Trading

No Cold Calling zones
This is a designated zone where people cannot cold call - or call without an appointment - for any reason. It sends out a clear message to criminals that their actions will not be tolerated. To discuss the possibility of setting up a No Cold Calling zone, contact: Your Neighbourhood Policing Team