Sponsored by
Police crackdown on metal thieves
SCRAP metal thieves were targeted in a police operation.
Bedfordshire Police joined forces with Central Bedfordshire Council enforcement teams for the crackdown in Biggleswade on Wednesday, January 25.
The record price of recyclable metals across the world has prompted an ever-increasing trade in metal stolen for its scrap value.
While some items stolen from yards and building sites are scrap, many more which are taken are in current use.
These typically include gas and water pipes, electricity cables, gates, lead roofing and even statues and lightning conductors.
Anyone who trades in scrap needs a licence issued by the Environment Agency.
Police officers and Central Beds Council’s environmental protection team spent most of the afternoon stop-checking vehicles around the area to make sure their loads of scrap were properly documented.
Sergeant Neil Camfield from Bedfordshire Police said: “We divided our team between general mobile patrols around the area and also stop checked vehicles approaching scrap yards to see if there were any criminal or civil offences being committed.
“I’m pleased to say there was no evidence of any of the vehicles we stopped carrying stolen goods, although the council team issued six notices to traders who were not complying with licensing regulations.”
The joint patrols will be continuing in the coming months.
Anyone who has any information about metal thefts can contact the police non-emergency number on 101, or alternatively Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Biggleswade
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.