QUICK-THINKING residents in a Bolton street became crimefighters to "arrest" two men they spotted breaking into houses, a judge was told.

The unofficial crime patrol of homeowners dashed out of their homes and detained the two burglars until police officers arrived on the scene.

And at Bolton Court Court yesterday the two men were jailed after admitting burglar offences.

The court was told that Michael Hennessey, 23, of Parkfield Avenue, New Bury, Farnworth, and Marc Bateson, 21, of Brookhouse Avenue, Bolton, had travelled to Blackrod in a £11,000 BMW stolen the previous night from Whitefield. Miss Rebecca Lloyd-Smith, prosecuting, said the thieves were spotted by sharp-eyed residents in Boardman Street, Blackrod. The anxious neighbours then telephoned each other to raise the alarm before leaving their homes "in force" to tackle them. They held their "prisoners" until police arrived.

In court Hennessey admitted obtaining the keys to the BMW as part of the proceeds of a burglary at Rochford Close, Whitefield.

Hennessey pleaded guilty to both the Whitefield and Blackrod burglaries while Bateson admitted being involved in the Blackrod raid. Judge Michael Lever sentenced Hennessey to three years imprisonment and Bateson to 18 months.

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