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Crackdown on scrap metal thefts
SUSSEX Police are targeting scrap metal theft as part of a national day of action today (Wednesday).
Metal theft is a growing problem for the UK. During the past six months there has been a marked rise in the number of thefts across the country, with railways, utilities substations, businesses, houses and even road grids and manhole covers being targeted by criminals.
The desire for metal amongst thieves has been fuelled by increasing commodity prices which have seen various types of metal reach all time highs on world markets, and with prices set to continue rising as more countries come out of recession, police forces, together with a variety of industries, are exploring methods of tackling the problem.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick May, who is co-ordinating activity in Sussex said; "We are working with scrap dealers locally as the majority of metal thieves look to make money by selling their stolen metal on to them.
"Often these dealers are unaware that the metal is stolen and can find themselves out of pocket when checks carried out by police result in the material being seized.
"Our activities today, working alongside British Transport Police, include visits to the registered scrap metal dealers across West Sussex as this is where we have had the most recent problems of this type, but we will continue to educate scrap yard operators across the county, to stop them from unwittingly taking in stolen metal and reduce the opportunities for thieves to make money."
"We are also deploying mobile Automatic Number Recognition (ANPR) devices, and specialist officers, to conduct checks and searches on suspect vehicles throughout West Sussex."
Police are using their powers under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act to enter licensed yards and inspect records and items stored there.
In the past three months alone 166 metal thefts have been reported across West Sussex. 43 have involved lead flashing, 21 were of copper pipe or wire, 17 were of catalytic convertors and the remainder were of a wide variety of types of metal.
Anyone with information about individuals engaged in metal theft or dealing in stolen metal is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 b999 or call independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. But if you see a crime in progress, call 999.
Paul Crowther, Deputy Chief Constable of British Transport Police and national lead on metal theft for Association of Chief Police Officers, who is overseeing the national day of action, which will see police forces across England, Scotland and Wales targeting thieves and scrap, said: "There is no doubt that metal theft is a huge problem for the UK. The conservative estimate is that it costs UK businesses around 770million each year – although it is difficult to put a true cost on the impact this crime has.
"Metal and cable theft affects all types of industry, and the wider public, in a variety of different ways. On the railway we have seen significant delays and cancellations as a result of thieves cutting and taking signalling and power cables from the side of the track.
"There have also been incidents around the country in which homes, businesses and even hospitals have suffered power cuts and surges as a result of criminals stealing copper from power substations."
Those who steal power cable from the railways and other areas are also putting themselves in real danger. Railway lines are operational 24 hours a day and trespassing can prove fatal. Strong currents also pass through many cables and can seriously injure anyone who touches them. Those who steal cable are not only risking a prison sentence, they are risking their lives.
But it is not just power supplies that have fallen foul of criminal behaviour. Man-hole covers, domestic gas pipes and lead flashing from homes and churches have also been taken by criminals looking to make a quick profit.
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
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Sunny spells
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