A BOLTON crime victim has told Greater Manchester's Chief Constable that she would like to confront burglars to tell them how their actions affect people's lives.

Grandmother Mary Pennington, aged 60, was burgled when she left the front door of her Halliwell home unlocked.

"I was lucky, I didn't have any damage like lots of other people," she told the Chief Constable, Michael Todd.

"But I would like to sit a bunch of them down and talk to them, like a grandma, about what they are doing to folk.

"They've got no discipline and they don't care about other people. They just want something and they want it now."

Mr Todd was visiting Halliwell as part of his campaign to cut down the number of burglaries throughout Greater Manchester.

He was fitting window and door locks at vulnerable homes in the area in an initiative by the "Safe and Secure" Partnership, which involves the police, Bolton Council, Bolton at Home, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, and Victim Support.

Mrs Pennington only left her door unlocked when she felt ill and had to lie down.

"I can only say that at least they didn't have to smash their way in," she said. "Now I have had a Yale lock fitted by the campaign so the front door locks automatically when it is shut."

Mr Todd said: "No-one can help being moved by the plight of Mary and those like her who lose valuables and have strangers in their homes. That's why I think that the 'Safe and Secure' partnership is absolutely marvellous.

"Fitting security equipment and using it, together with our own Operation Magpie anti-burglary campaign, is making a real difference.

"The number of burglaries is being reduced as a result of our efforts, but I must reinforce the point that we need the help of the public to make it hard for the burglars."

Over the summer months, people tend to leave their windows and doors open and it provides an ideal opportunity for burglars. One in five burglaries in Greater Manchester happen in this way.

"The message is to lock your windows and doors at all times," said Mr Todd.

Since the "Safe and Secure" Partnership began in Bolton, burglaries in the Halliwell area have been reduced by 45 per cent.