Burglary gangs steal £1.1m worth of jewellery from Asian community

HOMES TARGETED MORE DURING RAMADAM WHEN FAMILIES ARE AWAY AT PRAYERS

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

CALLOUS burglary gangs who target Asian communities have plundered gold worth £1.1m in the last year, leaving fear and trauma in their wake.

Teams of burglars, often from outside of Greater Manchester, are stalking areas like Oldham and Rochdale, swiping valuables worth tens of thousands while the owners are out. Often, the jewels and gold they are stealing are family heirlooms which have been in families for generations.

It's a year-round problem for many Asian communities no matter the religion, but it becomes particularly acute during Ramadan, when Muslim families visit relatives and go to prayer more often, leaving homes vulnerable.

The M.E.N. has previously reported how one Asian family, from Rochdale, watched 'nannycam' footage of a burglary apparently in progress at their home as they flew back to Manchester following a pilgrimage to Mecca.

After the family returned to their home in Rochdale, they found a neighbour had already alerted the police.

One family member added said: "Everything was upside down, all the drawers had been turned out and the cupboards and cabinets had been opened. They had opened all the doors and emptied boxes.