Half of all crime car committed in the north of Bolton over a two week period took place in Astley Bridge and Tonge with the Haulgh, it has been revealed.

From December 29 and January 11, police from the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team say they recorded nine burglaries, 12 vehicle thefts and 30 incidents of anti-social behaviour.

And officers have also outlined their crime fighting priorities.

Six offences relating to thefts from vehicles and theft of vehicles were reported in Astley Bridge and Tonge with the The Haulgh.

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There were three vehicles stolen and two domestic burglaries in Halliwell, two vehicles stolen in Smithills, one vehicle stolen in the Crompton West area, one domestic burglary in Bromley Cross, three domestic burglaries in Breightmet and two vehicles stolen.

There were four vehicles stolen and three domestic burglaries in Tonge and the Haulgh.

There were three vehicle offences which did not include the stealing of a car, on Blackburn Road in Astley Bridge.

Cllr  Roger Hayes, who represents the Smithills Ward within the north of Bolton, said the figures were “concerning” and urged people to be careful with their property.

He said: “I have not had experience of it getting worse at the beginning of the year.

“With these crimes there will be peaks and troughs, very often it depends on whether an individual is in prison of not.

“These are very concerning figures, I am sure the police will be working to tackle these crimes.

“I would urge people to be careful with their possessions, I would say make sure you keep your car keys where they can’t be stolen and if you see anything strange around your property that you inform the police.”

At the start of the year police arrested a man for shoplifting and assault after a number of thefts in Bromley Cross.

John Phelps appeared in Manchester Magistrates Court earlier this month.

The 39-year-old stole £40 of coffee and cherry coke from the Co-operative Store, £25 of laundry pods from Home Bargains in November.

He also attacked a man earlier this month.

Phelps, from Ainsworth Lane, Tonge, admitted two counts of shoplifting and one of assault.

He was given a sentence of 15 weeks suspended for 18 weeks.

He was ordered to pay £65 of compensation to the two stores he stole from.

Police have also outlined their priorities going forward.

These included tacking drug dealing in the School Hill area of Halliwell, vehicle thefts in the same spot which have been taking place midweek.

Tackling speeding and road offences have also been highlighted as a priority with Operation Portman continuing to run on roads including Moss Bank Way, Bury Road, Blackburn Road and Moss Bank Way with the peak times for this being mid to late afternoon.