POLICE have reassured Greenmount residents that a plan is in place to protect them from burglars.

Speaking at a meeting of Greenmount Village Community, Inspector Russ Magnall, from Bury GMP's Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor team, said that officers were working to reduce the number of break-ins following a spate of them in the area in December.

He told residents gathered in Greenmount United Reformed Church on Monday night that, despite the number of burglaries over the Christmas period, the overall figure for the village was lower than at the same time last year.

Inspector Magnall said he believed Greenmount was targeted due to the number of high value cars in the area, and that police had identified the main threat periods as being half-term and holiday periods when people are away.

He said: "We have a plan to cover burglaries this year. We had a significant amount of extra cops out in the February half term and the figures have played out. The number of burglaries has practically been zero. I won't go into the specifics of the plan but it will include significant cross border support into Lancashire.

"While I'm the inspector here, property crime will always be up there as a priority and I want to reassure you of that. When someone goes into your house it affects you massively."

He also offered any residents the opportunity for police to visit their home to advise them on how best to protect it from burglars.