Police were on the streets and even in a health centre this week to hand out information on the scourge of deception burglaries and also encourage the vulnerable and elderly to join their Nominated Neighbour scheme.


Participants in the scheme, which covers the borough and much of Greater Manchester, will not talk or open the door to cold callers unless they are accompanied by a "nominated neighbour" or friend.
The aim is to stop distraction burglaries, where criminals pose as officials from utility companies, the council or other organisations to enter homes and steal.


Operation Yukon was launched to crack down on the problem and saw local officers carrying out a number of initiatives. They included in Leigh:
l 70 referrals to nominated neighbour scheme.
l 243 people sent Homewatch Newsletter.
l 70 people at coffee mornings and 127 people at sheltered accommodation schemes given crime reduction leaflets.
l 127 people received "cold caller" testing


Det Supt Patrick McKelvey, leading Operation Yukon, said: "Incidents of distraction burglary have reduced significantly across Greater Manchester over the past few years but during summer months we typically see an increase.
"Our advice is simple – if in doubt, keep them out – and don't be pressured into buying anything from cold callers."
Andrew Glover of trading standards said: "It is important people report any incidents or suspicions they have about doorstep callers in the area to Trading Standards or police. We take this very seriously.
"Trading standards services work hard to support victims, whether by offering a rapid response to complaints or training key community workers.


"If we identify hotspot areas where doorstep crime occurs, we can look to set up 'No Cold Calling' zones to protect vulnerable residents."
Between April 1 and June 30 this year, there was a 31 per cent decrease in the number of distraction burglaries in Greater Manchester, compared to the same period last year.
For more information on the Nominated Neighbour scheme, please call (0161) 872 5050 or contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team directly.