Bolton Warning against buying illegal electric scooters for Christmas

Police community support officers (PCSO) Wayne Jackson and Douglas Tamumo held a surgery at Morrisons on Black Horse Street in Bolton on Monday morning, offering safety advice over a number of issues to residents. 

Leaflets were also presented to customers after shopping at the store to educate people.

One leaflet warns residents about helping to protect themselves from burglaries amid the darker winter nights and encourages people to put alarms on their houses when going out, locking up and leaving a light on to give the impression that someone is home.

PCSO Jackson said: “We are offering advice to people so they are not scammed or their cars are not broken into.

“I would not say crime in Bolton is higher than anywhere else, but this is a really good way of interacting with the public as people do their shopping, so they can come and explain things to us rather than ringing us.”

Police hold surgeries every month to help the public stay alert over crime.

PCSO Jackson said: “The literature will tell them things they do not know such as with electric scooters, as people do not know the law on them.

“Parents will be buying them for Christmas, but we advise not to as it is classed as a vehicle and is illegal.

“We also have leaflets on keeping vehicles safe and not leaving things on display and when going away for Christmas make sure your doors are locked.

“We are just educating people and I’d say it works as people are not aware of mobilise so people will register things on there so if they are stolen, they can be handed back to them.”

The officers also handed out free bells for purses and UV pens which people could use to write their contact information on appliances at home that if stolen, could be handed back.

PCSO Jackson added: “The reason we use the bells is for purses because they may not hear someone going in their pocket.”