Police in Bolton have appealed to the public for assistance in identifying a suspect wanted on suspicion of causing damage to police vehicles in a series of disturbing incidents that occurred on Monday, 17 July 2023.
The authorities have released stills from CCTV footage in an effort to trace the individual seen riding a bike near the police vehicle at the time of the alleged vandalism. The incident captured in the images is just one of three that took place within a 24-hour period, resulting in two police vehicles being temporarily taken off the road for repairs.
The first incident unfolded around 17.30 on Bury Road in Bolton. As a police vehicle maneuvered through slow-moving traffic, the officer behind the wheel noticed two males on electric bikes driving closely and making gestures. One of them proceeded to approach the police van from the outside and punched the wing mirror, causing significant damage, before fleeing the scene.
At 21.30 on the same day, the second incident occurred at the Folds Road junction of Bury New Road. In this case, a male suspect approached a stationary police vehicle and recklessly threw a brick through the window, narrowly missing the passenger, who happened to be a student officer.
The third incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday, 18 July 2023, at approximately 04:10 on Bradford Street, near Bromwich Street. A police officer attending a concern for welfare call noticed a male on an electric bike approaching his unattended vehicle. The suspect began shouting obscenities and then hurled a brick through the rear window before quickly fleeing down Bromwich Street.
Superintendent of Operations in the Bolton district, Danny O’Neill, condemned these “mindless acts of violence” and called on the community to assist in identifying the culprits. He emphasised that Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate such behavior and urged anyone with relevant dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from the areas at the specified times to come forward.
O’Neill stated, “We have now got two vehicles off the road whilst they are repaired, and this is just not acceptable.” He urged anyone with information to contact the police on 101, quoting crime number 21777/23. Alternatively, individuals can provide information anonymously via the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or by emailing Bolton’s Prevention Hub at [email protected].
