A special team of police officers has been assigned to catch a serial burglar targeting the elderly in Greater Manchester.
GMP believe the same person is behind incidents in the Radcliffe, Whitefield and Bury areas in which a thief pretends to be a delivery driver before forcing his way into properties.
12 burglaries have occurred since January at the premises of vulnerable people.
According to police, the suspect knocks on doors and asks about a parcel, before abruptly entering and taking valuable items.
One 89-year-old woman was apparently knocked to the ground in the latest burglary, which took place on Sunday evening (March 21).
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The suspect is described as a slim, white male in his twenties, standing at 5.6ft – 6ft tall.
Chief Inspector Mike Brennan of GMP’s Bury Division told the MEN that the burglar was targeting elderly and vulnerable people.
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The CI stated: “[The suspect] might have knowledge around when carers attend.
“I think people are a lot more trusting here, and he’s utilising that to gain entry.”
Police are advising residents to use peep holes before opening their doors, with carers/visitors urged to ring ahead before arriving.
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The total number of linked burglaries reported across Bury so far are:
25/01: Westminster Avenue, Whitefield
01/02: Halvard Court, Bury
14/02: Sefton Street, Whitefield
20/02: Halvard Court, Bury (different to 01/02)
24/02: Smyrna Walk, Radcliffe
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24/02: Elms Close, Whitefield (an hour later)
26/02: Walmsersley Road, Bury
28/02: Ostrich Lane, Prestwich
04/03: Lowercroft Road, Bury
09/03: Brierley Avenue, Whitefield138254603774
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13/03: Shakespeare Avenue, Radcliffe
21/03: Unsworth Street, Radcliffe
Anyone with any information is urged to contact GMP by using the non-emergency number 101, or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured image: Westminster Avenue in Whitefield – one of the streets on which a burglary occurred.
News
Man named and charged with ‘brutal’ murder at Peak District stone circle on summer solstice
Emily Sergeant
A man has been formally named as he’s charged with murder after a man’s life was taken in ‘the most brutal way’ following a summer solstice event.
He has been named as Szymon Babynko – a 23-year-old Polish national who now lives in London.
Babynko was named as part of an ongoing investigation, which was launched after Derbyshire Police were called to reports of a man’s body being found at Nine Ladies Stone Circle in the Peak District at 1:38pm on Monday 22 June, and when emergency services attended the scene, a 26-year-old man was found and pronounced dead.
The man was identified as Isaac Clare-Watts, from Nottingham, with police assuring his family are being supported by specialist officers.
Babynko was arrested on Thursday 25 June in connection with the incident, before being charged with murder today (29 June).
He has also been charged with attempted murder in relation to another incident on Hady Lane in Chesterfield on Thursday 25 June, the same day he was arrested.
Investigators say they still remain ‘keen’ to hear from anyone who was at the stone circle site over the weekend – which was notably the weekend of the summer solstice – as well as anyone with video footage from the event, and dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend.
A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up where members of the public can send information to police directly.
Babynko has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Derby Magistrates Court this week, with more updates on the case to follow.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Man jailed after violently assaulting two female police officers at Manchester Airport
Emily Sergeant
A man who assaulted two female police officers at Manchester Airport in a high-profile case back in 2024 has now been jailed.
PCs Lydia Ward and Ellie Cook – who each have eight years of experience and service at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) – were part of a team of officers based at Manchester Airport who responded to a report of a headbutt in Terminal 2 on the evening of 23 July 2024.
When officers went to arrest the man, named as 21-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz from Rochdale, he initially resisted before turning and attacking police.
During the shocking incident, PC Ward – an unarmed officer – suffered a broken nose after being subjected to actual bodily harm by Amaaz, while PC Cook, who was armed, suffered an injured jaw after being assaulted.
Many may remember that a short clip of the incident – which was recorded by a bystander – went viral after it was uploaded to social media without any wider context, leading to the officers involved becoming subjected to online abuse and condemnation.
A CCTV image of the brawl in action / Credit: CPS
PC Ward described the whole situation as ‘so confusing’.
“I have never seen anyone so violent,” she added in a victim impact statement. “I have never been so scared. It was utterly terrifying.”
PC Cook explained that she was left ‘traumatised by the incident’, adding: “I hate that we were judged by everyone. We were just doing a job – we were trying to protect the public.”
Last week (Friday 26 June), Amaaz appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he has sentenced to three and a half years in jail for his role in the incident.
Speaking on the sentencing, GMP’s Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson commented: “This incident began after a man was headbutted in a public place in front of his family.
“Our officers were responding quickly to precisely the sort of outrageous criminal behaviour that rightly offends the public. In undertaking their duties, officers were met with resistance and violence, followed by online vilification, condemnation and adverse commentary from those who did not have the full facts.
Read more:
Rochdale man, 20, found guilty of assaulting police officers at Manchester Airport
“It is vital that officers get the respect and support they deserve for routinely putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public.
“Assaults on police officers are sadly all too common – 35 of my officers are assaulted every week across GM – and such incidents can never be justified.”
The Manc -
24th March 2021 
