A MAN has been charged following an operation to target the violent theft of Asian jewellery.

Shaun Moore, aged 20, of St Margaret's Road, Prestwich, is charged with two counts of robbery and will appear before Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court today.

Three boys, two aged 17 and one aged 16-years-old, have been bailed pending further inquiries.

The charge follows a series of warrants executed earlier this week in the Salford and north Manchester areas.

The break-ins have been committed at the homes of predominately Asian families with the specific intent of stealing gold jewellery.

During a number of these burglaries, the families themselves have been subjected to threats and violence.

Detective Chief Inspector Clare Devlin, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "As a result of these warrants, we have charged one man and bailed a further three while we continue to gather evidence and build our case.

"We have positively identified some of the jewellery we recovered and will be reuniting that with its rightful owners and work is still ongoing to establish the origin of some other jewellery we have recovered as a result of these warrants.

"I would continue to urge anyone with information to come forward."