In Norton, Cleveland Police officers have started to use a grease on properties which illuminates under ultraviolet (UV) light. The aim, to prevent lead thefts in the area.
Theft of the metal has proven to be a problem in parts of the village and in response, officers are putting a type of grease onto properties which can be seen using UV light. The lights at scrap yards mean that scrap metal dealers can identify any metal coated in the substance. Checks by UV light can also be done on detainees when they are taken into custody.
In the last four weeks there have been 32 incidents of lead theft in the areas of Norton and the south of Billingham.
PC Avril Dimelow, of Norton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “There have been certain areas of Norton that have been targeted by metal thieves recently. In response to this, we have been given some funding to buy a type of grease which shows up under UV light, therefore making it easy to identify as stolen. UV lights at scrap yards give the dealers a chance to check whether the metal which comes in to them is stolen or not. Police will also carry out high visibility patrols and random checks at scrap dealers in order to check the lead. Licensed scrap dealers who are found with marked lead run the risk of losing their licence.”
