Police operation targets metal thieves

Greater Manchester Police will be targeting metal thieves in a force-wide day of action today (23 September).

The hard-hitting operation will see dozens of police officers raiding scrap yards across the county for stolen metals and performing roadside stop searches on vehicles suspected of transporting stolen metals.

The day of action is part of Operation Alloy, a force-wide initiative to reduce metal thefts and bring offenders to justice and builds on the success of local operations to tackle this growing crime.

Officers from specialist policing units including Tactical Aid, Motorway and Road Policing Units, Interceptor teams, Specials and officers from British Transport Police will be supporting local neighbourhood policing teams on the raids.

Staff from utility industries such as telecoms, electricity suppliers, water companies and transport networks will also be on the operation to help officers identify materials that may have been stolen from their networks.

HM Revenue and Customs officers will check vehicles suspected of using red diesel and vehicle licensing officers will conduct checks on insurance and MOT certification.

Other partners supporting the operation include the Department of Works and Pensions checking for illegal workers and benefits fraud and the Environment Agency checking for safe disposal of waste materials.

Thefts of copper and lead have increased in the last year driven by increasing international prices for these commodities. As well as targeting electricity, telephone and train and tram cabling thieves have also been stealing lead flashing and copper boilers and pipes from homes, churches and schools.

In the 12 months to May this year there was a 60 per cent increase in metal thefts across the county when compared to the previous 12 months rising from 4,249 to 6,729 offences.

Chief Superintendent Neil Wain from GMP’s Specialist Operations Branch who is leading the day of action said: “Metal thieves cause misery and financial hardship for their victims, making homes unsafe and uninhabitable and destroying the hard work of volunteers who have struggled to maintain churches and other community facilities.

“Theft of metal from utility companies, schools and transport services cause severe disruptions to vital services leading to distress, increasing costs and can even put lives in danger.

“Through Operation Alloy we and our partners will introduce these thieves to the metal bars in our custody cells and make it impossible for scrap yards to accept stolen metals.

“People can help us by making their homes, businesses and community buildings less vulnerable to thieves by using security lights, fencing, alarms and good locks to keep thieves at bay.

“They can also help us by providing information about suspicious activity either directly to us on 0161 872 5050 or anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”