BOLTON has been labelled as one of the worst places in the UK for car crime.

The town has suffered from nearly 25 incidents of theft, break-ins or damage to vehicles for every 1,000 cars registered in the borough.

This places Bolton at number eight in a list of the ten places in the country with the highest rate of reported incidents, according to information received through Freedom of Information requests spanning a year from March 2018.

London is the worst place for crimes relating to vehicles, while Manchester was a close second, with more than 50 incidents reported per 1,000 cars, according to car sales company Choose My Car.

In March of last year there were 279 reported vehicle offences in the borough. The majority of these were recorded in the Deane, Daubhill and Great Lever areas.

These issues have become so prevalent that Little Lever councillor Sean Hornby is set to write to the Home Secretary asking for more support in the area.

“There’s definitely a big problem with car crime and some of the people involved in these things are even under 16,” he said.

“It’s mainly taking place between around 1 and 4am in the morning and I bet there’s only one of two gangs that are involved.

“Residents are setting up these Whatsapp groups and people are able track where this is happening which has helped.

“But, it’s definitely a serious problem here.”

Last week, The Bolton News reported on the shocking story of Connor Sherrington who was attacked by a pair of thugs while he was sat in his car in Tarbet Drive, Breightmet.

The 25-year-old was waiting to pick up a friend when two men, aged between 18 and 22, climbed into his white VW grabbed him by the throat, beat him around the head with a spanner, took his belongings and then made off in the car.

Police are constantly trying to crack down on vehicle crime through campaigns like Operation Dynamo.

The project aims to tackle car theft across Greater Manchester and has been running for a number of years. It is focused on disrupting the organised crime gangs that are involved in stealing vehicles in the region.

Anyone concerned about stolen vehicles should call 101 or visit www.gmp.police.uk.