Cracking down on vehicle crime is the "number one priority" for police in the north of Bolton.

And after a series of arrests officers are hopeful they have made progress in the area.

Neighbourhood Inspector for Bolton North, Lisa Clarke, addressed the issue at a Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meeting in Astley Bridge.

She said: “Our number one priority is vehicle crime, not just in Astley Bridge and Sharples but across all of north Bolton.

“There are thefts from motor vehicles and thefts of motor vehicles.

“It is mostly very different sets of offenders.

“Thefts from motor vehicles is more opportunistic thieves, people coming round trying car doors, we all fall foul of leaving car doors open.

“In January we arrested two people, two men, for vehicle crimes.

“Theft from motor vehicles has massively reduced.

“Theft of motor vehicles is different.

“We have made arrests over the last month.

“Several were charged last week over the theft of motor vehicles and it is currently under review.

“Hopefully that will see the reduction of motor vehicle crime.

“It will never stop, it will always be there.”

Insp Clarke also highlighted the issue of people reporting thefts on social media.

She said: “A big issues has been reporting things on Facebook rather than to the police.”

She said that a rush to identify someone on social media on CCTV after a theft can lead to the police getting five different names for the alleged culprit.

Insp Clarke said: “Sometimes this causes us a lot of evidential difficulties.

“The most important thing is to get this information to the police.

“I am a member of all the Facebook groups.

“I will see crimes and I can’t find them on the computer.”