Police find six foot-long pole with hook attached during search of suspected burglar

Police searched a suspected burglar - and found him concealing a six foot-long pole with a hook attached to it.

Greater Manchester Police revealed a man spotted 'acting suspiciously' at 2am by officers out on patrol was stopped then searched. After searching the man, the long pole and hook was discovered.

The force said a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of 'going equipped to steal' and remained in police custody for questioning on Friday evening.

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No further information, or where the pole was on his person, has been released by the force. The arrest was made in the Dukinfield area of Tameside and the news revealed on X, formerly Twitter, by GMP Tameside South and West.

In a statement, the force said: "At around 2am this morning (Friday 27 October), officers on patrol conducted a proactive stop search after a man was acting suspiciously in Dukinfield, Tameside.

"After searching the man, officers seized a six foot-long pole with hook attached. A 44-year-old man was swiftly arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal. He remains in custody for questioning.

"Each area in Greater Manchester is committed to attending every burglary report we receive to drive down this appalling and ruinous crime as part of Operation Castle."

So-called 'hook and cane' thefts see criminals use garden canes tipped with hooks to reach through letterboxes or open windows to pick up keys to vehicles or property.