Ahead of the clocks going back on Sunday (October 29) and the nights drawing in, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is reminding residents to think about home security and personal safety.
When many people will be looking forward to the extra hour in bed this weekend, opportunistic thieves will be looking forward to the darker nights as they provide the perfect cover for committing neighbourhood offences such as burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.
GMP has dedicated neighbourhood officers deployed in communities across Greater Manchester, working round the clock to keep people and properties safe.
Darker Nights campaign
Chief superintendent Emily Higham said: “The aim of the ‘Darker Nights’ campaign is to provide an insight into what the Force is doing to tackle neighbourhood crime, raise awareness of where incidents are taking place, and provide crime prevention and security advice.
“We understand the profound effect that burglary and theft have on victims and often their families, as these crimes are personal and invasive and can have a significant impact on your wellbeing and sense of security.
“Throughout the autumn and winter months, our neighbourhood officers will be out in your community conducting high-visibility patrols, executing warrants, and pursuing and arresting offenders that are targeting you, your families, and your homes.”
“We will continue to be proactive in targeting thieves, but we need your help and intelligence so we can act quickly against anyone who may be acting suspiciously in your area. We also want to encourage you to consider taking additional security and personal safety steps to help prevent yourself from becoming a victim.”
There are a number of simple measures that you can take to make things more difficult for potential thieves and keep them in the dark this year:
