Saddleworth Police Put Focus On Burglaries
Tackling the problem of burglaries is the current main challenge for our local police. The officer in charge of the neighbourhood policing team, Inspector Danny Milovanovic, revealed last night that the problem is his top priority across all parts of Saddleworth and Lees.
He was taking part in a live online chat with residents, the first of its kind in our area. Several people left comments and asked questions during the session, which took place in response to poor attendance at some recent traditional-style public meetings.
Insp Milovanovic said that his officers have begun a special effort to reduce the number of burglaries across Saddleworth. Called Operation Avenger, it started on 7 January, and involves the police “actively targeting” the problem in Uppermill in particular.
The operation follows several recent high-profile burglaries, including one in Uppermill in which four cars were stolen from the same property. In some of the incidents thieves have used the so-called ‘hook and cane’ technique, in which items such as car keys, left on show on hallway tables and the like, are stolen by burglars armed with a long stick. That’s prompted the police to repeatedly warn residents to keep keys and other valuables well out of sight in the home.
However, Insp Milovanovic also stressed that the overall number of burglaries in Saddleworth and Lees is down this year, with 49 fewer offences recorded so far in 2010/11, compared with the same period in 2009/10.
Insp Milovanovic also issued an update on the progress of Operation Divert. Aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour in our area, that features organised activities for teenagers at the leisure centre in Uppermill on Friday nights.
It’s funded by Oldham Council and the police and has been running since last January, and seems to have been a success. According to Insp Milovanovic, there have been 318 fewer incidents of rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour recorded so far this year, compared with the same period in 2009/10.
Insp Milovanovic was joined for the live webchat by Pc Steph Whitehead, Oldham Council’s Neighbourhood Manager for Saddleworth and Lees Lisa MacDonald, and the council’s Community Champion for our area, Springhead-based Cllr Barbara Beeley.
I’ll be writing more articles about other issues raised during the online meeting later this week, but if you want to read a transcript for yourself, you can do so here.
You can contact our local police directly by calling 0161 856 4523.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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