In West Yorkshire, Wakefield police were involved in a national day of action on metal theft….
Some 30 scrap metal dealers and vehicle dismantlers across the district were visited and spot checks carried out as West Yorkshire Police joined forces with other police forces and agencies to tackle the growing problem of metal theft across the region.
The Force worked with British Transport Police, local authorities and other agencies such as BT and CE Electric. The Crimestoppers Charity also backed the initiative.
Spurred on by an increased global demand which has pushed up scrap metal prices, metal theft costs the British economy an estimated £770m per year, with some thefts causing widespread disruption to transport and endangering lives.
Wakefield District Police visited one dealer who had its books seized for further investigation due to suspected discrepancies.
Detective Chief Inspector Phill Wright, Wakefield District Police Crime Manager, said: โรรบThis was a very successful operation which demonstrated to us that most businesses in this area are operating properly. However it helped us identify some dealers which we need to monitor closely. Further visits are planned over the coming weeks.โรรน
Ten people have died in metal theft incidents this year nationally. People have been severely burnt or killed stealing electrical cable and there has been massive disruption to residents and to the rail network as a result of thefts.
Thieves have taken anything from lead on church roofs to memorial plaques and electric cabling. Police aim to stop the problem by tackling those responsible and ensuring the disposal routes through scrap metal dealers are cut off.
