Officers from Greater Manchester Police have issued a warning to criminals after they managed to track a stolen car and arrest a suspect – all under an hour after the crime was reported.
A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of Theft of Motor Vehicle after being located attempting to hide from officers in the back of the car, they added.
The force said the result ‘shows the lengths we will go to’ in order to ‘keep the public safe’ after a helicopter was called in to assist with the search – meaning no pursuit had to take place.
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GMP received a 999 call over a stolen vehicle from security officers at a mosque in Middleton at around 8.20pm on Wednesday evening (March 27). The report stated that the owners of the vehicle had parked their car outside the mosque and had gone inside.
However, the security officers noticed the car had been driven off, with the owners inside the building, and quickly called 999.
Officers were supported by a helicopter from the National Police Air Service as they attempted to locate the vehicle, and quickly found it on Long Street, Rochdale. A 59-year-old man was found hiding in the back, and has been arrested on suspicion of Theft of Motor Vehicle.
Sergeant Bobby Nasim of GMP’s TVIU, said: “The vehicle was recovered in an hour after it was reported stolen to us, showing the brilliant partnership work that goes into locating and finding these vehicles.
“This result shows the lengths we will go to in order to prevent a pursuit from occurring and how the emphasis is always on keeping the public as safe as possible.
“The highly trained drivers from the TVIU patrol Greater Manchester day and night, with the sole purpose of disrupting crime and keeping our streets safe.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
