A MAN was arrested after police responded within minutes to an alleged burglary at the home of an elderly man in Ashton-under-Lyne.
The 77-year-old resident told police he was woken by a loud noise inside his property in the early hours of Monday morning (January 12).
He then saw a torchlight and someone attempting to open his bedroom door.
Fearing for his safety, the man locked himself in his bedroom and called police. Officers arrived at the address – the exact location of which has not been disclosed – four minutes later.
As police reached the area, two suspects were seen running away. A 34-year-old man was chased by police dog Nova and arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Officers found the suspect in possession of items believed to belong to the victim, while additional stolen property was discovered nearby. At the address itself, police identified a forced entry point and a cut security light cable which had tripped the electrics.
The suspect remains in custody while enquiries continue.
Detective Sergeant Alexandra Smith, from Tameside’s Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This would no doubt have been a terrifying experience for the victim to go through and we take reports of this nature extremely seriously.
“Crimes like this cause misery to homeowners and the wider community and thanks to a great team effort and our police dog Nova, we were able to make a successful arrest. We’re pleased that the victim is ok after this horrible experience, and we strive to keep people safe.
“I hope this arrest reassures the people of Tameside that we take all reports of burglary extremely seriously and are committed to ensuring our streets are safe.”
Households are being reminded to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as soon as possible.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact police on 0161 856 2203, use the LiveChat service at www.gmp.police.uk or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.