Burglaries in Stockport have reduced by 50 percent following a police crackdown.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) took part in a special operation, which used intelligence to target suspected known criminals.

The operation took place over the last two weeks, during the night. The aim was "to catch those who thought it would be a good idea to burgle houses and steal cars ahead of Christmas", a GMP spokesperson said.

The operation resulted in seven arrests, eight charges, four remanded into custody, and two search warrants.

It means that Stockport district has dropped from the highest rate of burgled vehicles to the lowest - a drop of 50 percent when measured against other months.

The operation will continue 'in the background' over the coming weeks, to ensure offences don't rise dramatically again.

The officers were deployed to known hotspot areas around Stockport. Some of those arrested came from Edgeley, Brinnington, and Bredbury.

The operation involved forces from GMP and from Cheshire Constabulary, and included a number of specialised units such as the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit, Tactical Dog Unit, additional neighbourhood teams and investigative units (Image - GMP)

Detective Sergeant Matt Tarr who pulled together the operation said: "This targeted work is one of the biggest cross-border operations we have conducted this year and highlights just a small amount of the great work being carried out.

"This showcases the hard work and dedication of the Neighbourhood Crime Team and helps provide some reassurance to those living in Stockport. The robust approach to this type of offending will continue throughout December and into the New Year, whilst we continue to monitor its success.

"We want to make it clear to criminals in the area, at a time when burglaries generally increase and can cause even more distress and upset, that we will catch you. We know who you are and we will do everything in our power to make sure you are held to account for your actions by spending Christmas in prison.

"I'd like to thank the communities who engage with us for continuing to help us in our mission to make Stockport safer for everyone. Please do remain vigilant and report your concerns, as all credible bits of information are acted on, especially when we have increased resources available to us."

Police also advise anyone with information about crime in their area to report it directly through 101 or the Live Chat function on gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through their website.

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