A SPECIAL operation has been launched to catch a Bolton gang thought to be behind a wave of burglaries at schools across the North West.

Greater Manchester Police chiefs have set up Operation Anglesey to focus on 12 recent raids including four in Bolton.

The investigation, led by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit in Bolton, is looking into a series of burglaries — involving the theft of computers, cash and iPads — committed since March.

Police believe Mytham Primary School in Little Lever, which was broken into on May 11, and Horwich Parish Primary, which has been burgled twice, were targeted by the gang.

A break-in on April 30 at Washacre Primary School in Westhoughton, which saw £4,000 of cash taken from a safe weeks after the school was awarded Proceeds of Crime Act money from police, is also one of the 12.

Burglaries at schools in Bury and from elsewhere in Greater Manchester and Lancashire form part of the enquiry.

The 12 break-ins at the centre of the probe all saw the schools targeted in two stages. First the burglars disable alarm systems and deactivate sensors then return later to carry out the raids.

GMP chiefs have decided that the spate of break-ins is a force priority because of the impact on childrens' education.

Officers are taking part in crime prevention work with schools, and giving advice to teachers and staff.

Horwich Parish headteacher Alan Beedie was disgusted by the break in at his school which involved the theft of £10,000 of laptops and iPads.

He said at the time: "It was somebody who knew exactly where to look, which makes it worrying. The iPads are all quite new and we didn't publicise the fact that we had got them because we were concerned about something like this happening.

"We have managed to build them up over the past few months, so that we had enough for a whole class to use them, which obviously we can't do anymore and we are in a bit of a mess."

It is possible that several other break-ins not central to the inquiry were committed by the Bolton gang.

Police have made some progress since Operation Anglesey was launched.

Two men, aged 25 and 29, have been arrested in connection with a break-in at Tottington Primary School in Bury, one of the 12 police being probed.

Meanwhile four men were arrested at AutoWorld in Tonge Moor Road on suspicion of handling stolen goods after police found computer equipment linked to one of the break-ins.

Det Insp Charlotte Cadden, of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "We would like to appeal to anyone who may have been offered any computers from unauthorised sources.

"Any privately bought devices should be checked for school identification and people must call us if they suspect they have been stolen.

"Can you help us bring this gang to justice.

"Their actions have been seriously disruptive to the education of pupils as they are depriving schools of vital equipment.

"We are currently in an exam period so any thefts carried out now could have huge ramifications, with pupils potentially losing work."

Anyone with any information should contact police on 101.