Police are investigating after eighteen Asian families were targeted in a series of jewellery burglaries.

Officers have launched an investigation to target those suspected of being involved in a series of gold jewellery burglaries in Bolton.

The break-ins have been committed at the homes of Asian families with the specific intent of stealing gold jewellery and cash within the last four weeks.

During a number of these burglaries the families themselves have been subjected to unprovoked violent threats, with offenders using weapons such as screwdrivers to threaten the victims.

There are no reports of injuries.

The offenders are gaining access to properties by breaking an entry to the rear of the house.

In all cases, a significant amount of high value jewellery has been stolen. Some incidents have also included cash theft.

Detective Inspector John Mulvihill from GMP’s Bolton borough, said: “These attacks are generally happening in the late afternoons and evenings and we would urge the community to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their area

“We are aware that there has been a recent spike in incidents where Asian families have been targeted in their own homes and gold jewellery stolen, these criminals are having a serious impact on the Asian community with people no longer feeling safe at home.

"I want to reassure the community that we are working hard to eradicate these crimes and want to send out a message that we will not allow innocent members of our communities to be terrorised in this way and we will identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

"There are a number of steps we would advise people take to protect themselves against this type of crime. For instance, keeping your jewellery in a safety deposit box at your local bank rather than in your home, or if you would prefer to keep the jewellery at home invest in a good quality safe which complies with official insurance rating standards and is secured to a wall or to the floor.

"Other more simple steps include double-locking your doors and windows, use timer switches on lamps to give the impression somebody is at home or keep a light on in the evening when you leave, consider installing alarms and 'dusk to dawn' security lighting or installing CCTV cameras outside your home."

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or 0161 856 5619, quoting incident number 1454 of Saturday 19 August 2017, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.