UNDERCOVER police investigating car crime in Bolton arrested a serial smash-and-grab thief after a tip-off from a member of the public.

The youth, aged 17, was arrested as part of month of crime-fighting action in Deane and the Willows area.

Police were alerted to the teenager’s activities following reports of vehicles being broken into in Constance Road on November 1 and 2.

The incidents were linked through the operation’s daily review of crimes in the area and on November 3 officers began gathering intelligence from the community.

The following day police had the name of a suspect who was then watched by undercover police who arrested him for stealing a satellite navigation system from a car on November 5.

The teenager admitted the offence, asked for five other similar matters to be taken into consideration and was charged.

Police applied for an interim ASBO to put strict controls on the youth's behaviour and movements, which was secured at Bolton Magistrates Court on November 12.

However, he has since breached the ASBO twice and is due to go back before the court on December 3 to be sentenced for the breaches and the theft charges. He is now being monitored on an electronic tag.

Insp Phil Spurgeon, who has been leading the month of action, said: “Offenders across Deane and Willows have been subjected to similar enforcement tactics, in an attempt to bring down levels of burglaries, street crime and vehicle crime.”

On Friday, police arrested 21 people during a day of action to target vehicle crime.