One man was arrested and six weapons were seized after police officers spotted two men wearing balaclavas and acting suspiciously at a petrol station on Rochdale Road in Manchester.
Plainclothes officers were out on a patrol in the Blakeley and Harpurhey area on Saturday night, 11 December, when at around 12.20am they spotted the men and got out of their vehicle to speak with them.
As they approached the two men, one got into the driver’s seat of their vehicle and attempted to make off from officers.
After a brief struggle, the officers detained the male and later located a knife on the floor.
The man, aged 17, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary, drug offences, and possession of an offensive weapon. He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
A search of the vehicle following the incident led officers to locate five more knives, including large machetes and a hunting knife.
The vehicle – a white Peugeot 2008 – was later identified as stolen from south Manchester earlier in the month.
Inspector William Jennings-Wharton, of GMP’s Manchester North Neighbourhood division, said: “We will continue to patrol the streets of Manchester in a bid to stop criminal activity and remove dangerous weapons from our streets.
“We want north Manchester to be a safe place not only for those who live and work here but also for our officers operating across the community.
“The fast response from our neighbourhood officers over the weekend has resulted in the removal of multiple weapons from our streets and the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
“This is excellent work by our officers carrying out proactive work but sadly highlights the real dangers they face on a daily basis.
“I would now like to urge our local residents to help keep us safe by reporting any information they may have about individuals who carry dangerous weapons or conduct criminal activity.”
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