The burglars who have targeted homes in Greater Manchester who every householder should know about

For those targeted by burglars, there's a feeling of having been violated. There's a fear of being targeted again, and the sense of helplessness.

In recent years, there's been a feeling that a crime which causes such misery was not being taken seriously by police. Now, police forces around the country - including Greater Manchester Police - are promising to attend all home burglaries, with the hope of solving more crimes and prosecuting more offenders.

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Last year there were a total of 12,460 burglaries of residential properties in the Greater Manchester area, plus 371 aggravated burglaries, which is a more serious crime because it means the offenders were armed with some kind of weapon, according to statistics released by the government.

National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) chair Martin Hewitt, said: “The number of burglaries is at an all-time low, down 51% over the past decade due to increased investment by police and partners in preventing them happening in the first place.

“Wherever you live in England and Wales you can be confident the police will attend if you experience the invasion of a home burglary. This should see more burglaries solved and more offenders prosecuted.”

While police say they have sharpened their focus on burglary, Manchester's courts are dealing with the cases of those who have been caught. Some of them are persistent, others dangerously reckless, some desperate - all left misery in their wake. The Manchester Evening News looks at their cases here.

Sean Gavin

Career criminal Sean Gavin has brought fear and inconvenience to people across Greater Manchester.

The 29-year-old habitual burglar appeared before