Men arrested on suspicion of handling stolen metal

Fourteen scrap metal premises were visited across Rochdale on Friday (23 September) as part of Operation Alloy, an ongoing crackdown on metal theft.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen metal at one of the yards, and a large quantity of scrap was seized during the day including copper and communications cable. The men have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Officers stopped 54 vehicles suspected of transporting stolen metals, and were helped on the day by Tactical Aid and Road Policing Units.

Superintendent John Graves of Greater Manchester Police’s Rochdale Division said: “Metal thieves cause misery and financial hardship for their victims, making homes unsafe and uninhabitable and destroying the hard work of those who maintain churches and other community facilities.

“Theft of metal from utility companies, schools and transport services causes severe disruptions to vital services, and through Operation Alloy we will continue to track thieves down and make it much harder for scrap yards to accept stolen metals.”

Police also delivered around 300 crime prevention leaflets to estate agents and premises for letting to protect property from metal thieves, arrested one person on suspicion of possession of cannabis after carrying out search warrants in Middleton and Littleborough, and issued four fixed penalty notices for driving offences.