Here at Confidential we get reports, releases and updates from Greater Manchester Police. This is a selection of the reports received so far this week, not all of them. Some make depressing reading so it's worth remembering Greater Manchester has a population of 2.6me and that recent figures show crime has fallen dramatically across both the region and the country.
Friday 30 August: Man Struck Over Head With Hammer in Leigh
At around 11.30pm on Saturday 24 August, the 44-year-old victim was loading food into his car for a delivery outside the New Good Food Takeaway on Westleigh Lane, Leigh, when he was approached by a man.
As the victim tried to close the driver's door the offender dragged him out of the car and demanded the car keys. During a struggle the offender hit the victim in the forehead with what is believed to be a hammer.
The thief then got into the car, a silver Honda CRV, and drove off along Westleigh Lane towards Atherleigh Way. The car was later found abandoned in Leigh.
Police are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward. The offender is described as white, in his early 20s, about 5ft 7in tall and wearing dark clothing. It is also believed he is local to the area.
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 7292 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
New Good Food, Westleigh Lane, Leigh
Friday 30 August: Largest Ever Haul of Stolen Petrol Seized by Police in Oldham
On Thursday 29 August, officers from Oldham executed a search warrant on a property on Mark Lane, Shaw, where they recovered up to 1600 litres of petrol and diesel stored in the garage and shed.
Officers also found around £30,000 of cash hidden in the house.
A 51-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and money laundering.
Chief Superintendent Catherine Hankinson, divisional commander for Oldham, said: "This is an incredible find. The sheer volume of petrol and diesel being stored at this location is, we think, the largest amount ever recovered.
"We believe this fuel was stolen and was being illegally stored at and sold from the address, and the fact we have recovered £30,000 in cash shows what a lucrative criminal enterprise this is.
"Given the location of the property and the way it was being recklessly stored in chemical containers in a garden shed and garage, if there had been a fire then it is no exaggeration to say the entire area could have exploded and put people's lives in serious jeopardy."
Some of the fuel stash
Thursday 29 August: Man Attempts to Destroy Laptop During Arrest
Adam WaltonAdam Walton, 28, of Calder Crescent, Whitefield, has been sentenced to eight months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for ten years after police found 8573 indecent images of children on his computer.
As police executed a search warrant at Walton's address on 1 August 2012, Walton lunged into the police car, grabbed his laptop and attempted to smash it on the floor.
Regardless of this audacious attempt, Police were still able to recover the content from the hard drive and achieve a sentence.
Thursday 29 August: CCTV Released of Woman Robbed and Assaulted in NQ
Robbery SuspectPolice have released CCTV footage and images of a man wanted after a woman was repeatedly attacked and robbed at around 5.15am on Saturday 20 July on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter.
The 23-year-old woman was wearing headphones and listening to music when the offender, who had been following her on Thomas Street, approached from behind and grabbed the victim's bag.
The man then hit the woman with a glass bottle and said "give me your phone or i'll slash your face."
The woman handed over her phone and sought aid from a taxi driver on Tib Street, but the man had followed her and proceeded to assault the woman, telling the taxi driver that she was his girlfriend.
This footage shows the man continuing to assault the woman in front of the taxi driver:
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3221, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Thursday 29 August: Orrell Man Suffers Serious Head Injury Following Assault
Shortly after 2.15am on Wednesday 28 August police were called by paramedics to Church Drive in Orrell, Wigan.
When police arrived they found that a 37-year-old man had been attacked and had suffered a serious head injury as he made his way back from a friend's house between 1.30am and 2.15am.
The man was taken to hospital and is now in a stable condition.
Anyone with information should call Crimestopper on 0800 555 111 or contact Wigan police directly on 0161 856 7124.
Church Drive
Wednesday 28 August: Five Arrests In Bolton Following Child Sexual Exploitation Investigation
UPDATE: All five men have now been bailed until 15 January pending furthur investigation.
Officers from the Serious Sexual Offences Unit have today made five arrests on suspicion of rape and conspiracy to commit rape following a series of warrants executed across the Bolton area.
The arrests follow an investigation by police into allegations that a then 15-year-old girl was subjected to a number of sexual assaults and rapes between July 2011 and September 2012.
Detective Inspector Simon Davies, of the Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: "There will understandably be anxiety in the community following today's arrests.
"This is the result of a complex and detailed investigation that has been running for several months into allegations of serious sexual assaults committed against a young girl.
"There are other people we are actively seeking to speak to as part of this investigation and there may be further arrests in future. For those reasons, we are unable to go into any more detail about the status of the investigation."
All the men remain in custody for questioning.
Tuesday 27 August: Moston Man Critically Injured As Party Results In Vicious Street Fight
UPDATE: Police have arrested a second man, a 19-year-old, on suspicion of assault.
At around 1.45am on Tuesday 27 August, police were called to Hillier Street North in Moston following reports that there were people fighting in the streets.
As the police arrived the group dispersed but a 41-year-old man was found to have suffered serious head injuries during the incident.
He remains in a critical condition with bleeding on the brain and multiple facial injuries.
It is understood that the group of men had been asked to leave a party at the victim's address but refused to do so.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody on suspicion of assault.
Anyone with information is asked to call police in North Manchester on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Hillier Street North
Tuesday 27 August: Camouflaged Man Fires Shots In Wigan
At around 10.30pm on Sunday 26 August, police were called to Falkirk Drive in Higher Ince, Wigan, after reports that a gun had been discharged by a man wearing camouflaged clothing.
The man was reportedly seen brandishing the gun and jumping up and down on the bonnet of a car before fleeing.
Police attended the scene with colleagues from the Tactical Aid Unit and found empty shell casings suggesting that a gun had been fired.
Detective Inspector Martin Reddington said: "Thankfully, no-one was injured as a result of this incident, which we are treating as a genuine firearms discharge.
"Any time a gun is fired it has the potential to seriously injure someone - in some cases even worse. Thankfully no-one was hurt or injured during this incident but this is probably more by chance than design and it is imperative we find both the offender and the gun itself as soon as possible."
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Falkirk Drive
Monday 26 August: 62-year-old Man Stabbed Four Times By Burglar
A Wigan man has been stabbed four times after a burglar broke into his home on Diamond Street in Leigh, Wigan, and violently attacked him at around 5.30pm on Sunday 25 August.
The man has been receiving treatment in hospital.
The victim had just returned home when he heard a knock on the door. He was confronted by the burglar who stabbed him in the back and chest then snatched his wallet as he lay on the floor. The thief then fled.
The man is described as a scruffy, white, 5ft 10in and in his late 30s. It is thought that he may have been on drugs.
Detective Inspector Martin Reddington said: "It is no exaggeration to say this man's injuries could have been far worse and possibly even fatal given that he was stabbed up to four times with some sort of blade.
"The actions of this violent offender are utterly reprehensible, cowardly and we need to find him and bring him to justice."
Police have been quick to assure residents that this is an isolated incident and that their presence in the area has been stepped up. Anyone who is worried or may have information on the offender are encouraged to approach police straight away.
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Diamond Street
Sunday 25 August: Wigan Motorcyclist Dies After Colliding With Coach
At around 6pm on Saturday 24 August, 47-year-old Anthony Unsworth was riding a white Honda when he collided with a coach in Standish.
Anthony suffered extensive injuries and was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers from GMPs Serious Collision Investigation Unit are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Please call 0161 856 4741 or 4742.
Saturday 24 August: Three Men Wielding Weapons Rob Burnage Bookmakers
Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a Coral Bookmakers on Fog Lane, Burnage, on Friday afternoon.
At around 4pm, three men carrying a baseball bat and hammers entered the bookmakers and demanded cash from staff. They then smashed security glass and made off with a quantity of notes and coins.
Luckily nobody was injured during the robbery.
All three men wore balaclavas.
Anyone with information that may lead to the identification of the offenders then please call police on 101, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Coral on Fog Lane
