A man has been arrested following a burglary at the home of a 77-year-old man in Tameside, after police responded to the incident in just four minutes.
The burglary took place in the early hours of Sunday, 12 January 2026, at a property in Ashton-under-Lyne. The victim was woken by a loud noise and saw a torchlight inside his home, before hearing someone attempt to open his bedroom door.
Fearing for his safety, the elderly man locked himself in his bedroom and contacted police, who arrived at the scene within minutes.
On arrival, officers spotted two suspects fleeing the area. Police dog Nova was deployed and pursued one of the suspects, a 34-year-old man, who was subsequently detained and arrested on suspicion of burglary.
The suspect was found in possession of items believed to belong to the victim, with further stolen property recovered nearby. Officers also discovered evidence of forced entry at the address, including a cut security light wire which had caused the property’s electrics to trip.
The arrested man remains in custody while enquiries continue.
Detective Sergeant Alexandra Smith, from the Tameside Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This would no doubt have been a terrifying experience for the victim to go through, and we take reports of this nature extremely seriously.
“Crimes like this cause misery to homeowners and the wider community, and thanks to a great team effort and our police dog Nova, we were able to make a successful arrest.
“We’re pleased that the victim is okay after this horrible experience, and we strive to keep people safe. I hope this arrest reassures the people of Tameside that we take all reports of burglary extremely seriously and are committed to ensuring our streets are safe.”
Anyone with information relating to the incident is asked to contact police on 0161 856 2203. Alternatively, details can be passed via the GMP LiveChat service at www.gmp.police.uk or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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