You are in > manchester.com  > News > Oldham man arrested in passports robbery case

General Manchester news

Oldham man arrested in passports robbery case

01/08/2008

A man is being questioned in connection with the hijacking of white Citroen security van in Oldham during which 3,000 blank passports and visa stickers were stolen.

The man arrested is understood to be the delivery man who accompanied the driver on the journey to London. Original reports suggested that this man had been attacked and forced to keep his head down as the hijacker drove off with the van.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: "A 48-year-old man from Oldham was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery and is currently in police custody."

The robbery occurred in Chadderton just before 06:40 BST on Monday. It happened as the driver went in to a newsagent to buy a newspaper and chocolate.

Police say the passports have a black market value of £2.5 million. The Foreign Office has admitted the theft is a "serious breach of security".

The Conservatives say this is another example of the government's inability to protect official documents.