Here at Confidential we get a constant stream of reports, releases and updates from Greater Manchester Police. This is a small selection of the reports received so far this week, not all of them.
Some do make for depressing reading but it's worth remembering that Greater Manchester has a population of 2.6m and that recent figures show crime rates have fallen across both the region and the country.
Saturday 26 April: Man exposes himself to girls aged 9, 10, 12 and 14
Police in Bury are hunting a man linked to a series of indecent exposures around Radcliffe, Bury.
The man has targeted young girls aged 9, 10, 12 and 14, asking the girls for directions before exposing himself.
On one occasion the man also tried to coax one of the girls into his car.
The man is described as aged between 30 and 50 years old, chubby build, local accent with greying brown hair and driving a four-door blue Ford Focus or similar-looking car.
Detective Sergeant Ben Cottam said: "It is important that we make the public aware that this man is at large and potentially could attempt something similar again.
“We do have extra patrols in the area but would ask if anyone sees a man of this description driving a blue saloon car in the area, or approaching young girls, that they contact police immediately.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8204 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Thursday 24 April: Pub landlord and wife tied up during armed robbery
At around 3am on Monday 14 April a pub landlord and his wife were tied up during a robbery at the Melville Hotel on Melville Road in Stretford.
Three masked men used a ladder to gain access before threatening the couple with a machete, baseball bat and a baton.
The landlord was dragged to a safe where a large amount of cash was taken by the thieves.
The three males are described as white, between 5ft 6in and 6ft and wearing black balaclavas, dark clothing and gloves.
Detective Constable Simon Johnson, based at Stretford, said: "To be woken in the dead of night by a trio of machete-wielding masked men must have been horrific.
"And the victims ordeals only got worse when they were tied up with washing line and left to fend for themselves.
"Thankfully, they managed to free themselves and they appeared to suffer no long-lasting physical effects. I now want to hear from anyone who can help in naming those who carried out this robbery.
"In particular I want to know where the ladder came from. Was it taken from your garden or did you see somebody with a large ladder in the area at the time?"
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 9168 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Melville Hotel
Wednesday 23 April: 14-year-old sex attacker walks free
A boy, 14, who admitted sexually assaulting eleven women around the Manchester University campus over a seven week period has walked free from court.
He has been referred to a Youth Offending Team for a year.
The unnamed teenager attacked women between the ages of 17 and 48 from 20 August to 9 October 2013.
Detective Chief Inspector Colin Larkin said: "Although the victims were upset by what happened, each one of them have expressed a genuine wish the boy receives help and does not offend again."
Tuesday 22 April: Man seen with shotgun in Rusholme... again
Police are hunting a man that walked into Ocean Wines on Wilmslow Road at 5.30am on Tuesday 22 April brandishing a shotgun.
The offender made threats but no shots were fired and nothing was stolen. He then entered a silver VW Golf and drove away.
He is described as a white man, of a slim build, around 5ft 6 to 7 inches tall, wearing a blue hooded top.
Detective Sergeant Martin Blythe from Longsight police station said: "We are also looking at the possibility the same man was seen last week on Wednesday 16 April. A man matching his description was seen walking along Wilmslow Road holding a shot gun but despite a search of the area he was never located.
"We have increased our patrols in the area but would ask the public to call police if they see anyone acting suspiciously or if there any concerns."
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 4223 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Police are hunting the gunman
Tuesday 22 April: Arsonists target stables and kill two horses
Between 4.30am and 5am on Tuesday 22 April two arsonists deliberately set fire to a stables off Ashworth Lane, Bolton.
The wooden stable block was burned to the ground, killing two horses traped inside.
Detective Constable Dave Harris of Bolton Division said:
“This was a deliberate fire that caused the death of two horses. The owner is understandably very distressed and we want to find out who did this as soon as possible.
“We have launched a joint investigation with the Fire Service. I would urge anyone who may have seen someone acting in a suspicious manner around the stables to contact police.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 8565772 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
