AN elaborate police "sting" has trapped more than 50 suspected criminals in Bolton.

Undercover officers opened a bogus electrical shop -- and waited for thieves to come in selling stolen goods.

The shop was called Jay's TVs on Halliwell Road and police recorded everyone who entered with CCTV cameras and microphones.

Operation Frond, which ran for six months, led to the recovery of three garages worth of items.

The first two to be trapped have now appeared before the courts.

The shop was open last autumn, closing in December, and surveillance continued into the spring.

Pamela Bleakley, aged 19, and a 17-year-old male were among those caught red-handed last November.

They entered the shop and tried to sell the officers a video recorder, hi-fi and mobile phone for a total of £25.

The police even joked: "I hope you're not selling stolen goods to us."

The pair denied this, but it was later discovered they had twice broken into a house to steal the goods.

Bleakley acted as a look-out while the youth passed the items, worth £169 in total, out to her.

They sold some of the goods for £15 and then returned 15 minutes later with the hi-fi and mobile phone and received another £10.

Bleakley, of Fleet House, Nottingham Drive, Halliwell, appeared at Bolton Crown Court, for sentence.

She admitted burglary and handling stolen goods.

Recorder Clement Goldstone QC said he could not pass a custodial sentence because her co-accused had already been sentenced. He added: "You are a very lucky young lady because the lad you committed this burglary with was given a Community Rehabilitation Order. I have to be fair and I'm not going to pass the sentence you and he deserve."

Bleakley was sentenced to a two-year Community Rehabilitation Order.

She was also told she must pay £25 compensation for damage caused during the break-in.

Prosecutor Adrian Dugdale said police had begun the operation due to the high level of burglaries in the Halliwell area.

Many of the other people arrested during the operation will be appearing in court for sentence over the coming weeks.