ROBBERY is the fastest growing Crime in Bolton town centre, according to new figures.

More people are becoming victims of crime and having their mobile phones and cash stolen.

Many of the muggings are carried out by teenagers on other young people.

Mobile phone thefts were tackled by Operation Hawk two months ago -- a successful scheme which saw incidents fall by 8.6 per cent.

But overall robberies rose by 15.8 per cent in the period from April to August when compared to the same period last year.

Despite Hawk's work in marking 7,500 handsets, mobile phone thefts as well as handbag snatches are still making up many of the numbers.

The statistics were released at the same time as a survey from Crimestoppers which suggested 68 per cent of people in Greater Manchester believed the county had become a more dangerous place to live in the past 10 years.

A quarter of people are afraid about reporting crime, suggesting the robbery figures could be even higher.

Roy Clark, director of Crimestoppers Trust, said: "Too often, the people most vulnerable to crime are the same ones who most fear reporting it."

In Bolton, theft from a motor vehicle and juvenile nuisance were up by 3.6 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively.

But actual thefts of a motor vehicle plummeted by 12.4 per cent.

Supt Don Brown said: "Young victims being robbed by people of their own age for cash and mobile phones is a problem.

"We would encourage youngsters to leave valuables at home and stay in groups.

"Handbag snatches cause a headache because the best description available is of the back the back of offenders in most cases.

"People should carry bags across the body and underneath the top coat.

"Juvenile crimes often involve alcohol. It is disconcerting that parents are not always aware of their children's whereabouts in the evenings. Parental control is the key."

Crimestoppers can be called on 0800 555 111.