Would-be thieves are believed to have run off after being disturbed before breaking into a house.

The suspected thieves were apparently trying to break into a house on Hardy Mill Road in Harwood on the night of Thursday August 30.

But police say that they ran off after a neighbour saw what they were doing.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers from the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team, Response and Neighbourhood Priority Crime Team have responded to reports of thieves being disturbed at a house on Hardy Mill Road in Harwood tonight.

“A neighbour managed to disturb them before they broke in and they made off.

“Officers conducted an area search and believe the suspects made off on Sur Ron bikes towards Bradshaw Meadows.”

An image supplied by officers at the scene shows a police car in a dark area with the thieves already appearing to have left the area.

As yet no further details have been released about how many people are believed to have been involved.

Officers have appealed for anyone with any information or concerns to get in touch by calling 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Tackling burglaries is top of Bolton police's agenda, a senior officer has said.

Residents and councillors have often flagged burglary a crime which they consider a priority for police to deal with in Bolton.

They say not only can being a victim of burglary result in valuables being take, but the psychological toll can also be quite distressing.

An operation to crackdown on burglaries in Bolton and the rest of Greater Manchester has led to thousands of arrests.

Operation Castle was launched in 2021 as officers committed a pledge to the Government to send an officer to every domestic burglary in Greater Manchester.

Alternatively, witnesses can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.