The February print issue of Professional Security magazine has an article on the latest developments against metal theft – a trial in the north of England of a scheme to target the minority of scrap metal recyclers who have been content to fund criminal behaviour through cash transactions with ‘no questions asked’.
Police were checking yards and recovering stolen scrap in a 24 hour blitz in Keighley. Officers from the Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team have said more work is on the way to combat metal theft after launching a series of operations across the town on Tuesday, January 31.
NPT officers visited a number of scrap yards across the Keighley area as part of the operation and stop searched vehicles outside dealers.
The team also stop checked six vehicles carrying scrap in various locations in the town and reported one to the Environment Agency for having no waste carriers licence.
Separate enquiries also lead to officers locating and recovering a quantity of metal suspected of being stolen. This was later returned to its rightful owner. Meanwhile, during the drive the team also seized a vehicle for having no insurance and reported the driver for summons to court for a variety of offences.
The operation follows a number of vehicle safety initiatives in Keighley in January in which police have been checking cars for road worthiness in winter weather.
Insp Wayne Horner of the Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Reducing metal theft is a priority for us at the Keighley NPT as it is across the Force and we are determined to keep upping the pressure on thieves and those who receive stolen metal. Metal theft itself is anything but a victimless crime and can also be incredibly dangerous for thieves, some of whom have lost their lives in West Yorkshire from trying to steal from dangerous locations such as power stations and train lines.”
Three suspected railway cable thieves were on Sunday, February 5 arrested by officers from British Transport Police (BTP) in two separate incidents, as the fight against cable and metal theft continues in Gloucestershire.
Two men from Birmingham, aged 18 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of attempting to steal cable from the rail network in the Blockley area. Police attended the location after Network Rail staff reported a loss of signalling shortly before 10pm.
Earlier, a 43-year-old man from Stratford-upon-Avon was arrested in Honeybourne on suspicion of cable theft after security staff in the area reported suspicious activity at around 5.45pm.
The arrested men were taken to custody, where they remain today (Monday 6 February) helping police with their enquiries, while forensic officers search their home addresses and the locations where the alleged offences took place.
Detective Inspector Andy Irwin-Porter, of British Transport Police, said: “We are continuing to work closely with Network Rail and local police forces to tackle cable theft from the rail network.
“We also work closely with scrap yard owners to monitor any cable which is brought in and, with assistance from railway and telecoms experts, we can quickly identify if any of that cable has been taken from the rail network.
“The theft of cable has a direct impact on the everyday lives of the travelling public. It really is an attack on the community.
“Stealing cable is also an extremely dangerous act which is costly to the rail industry and to the many thousands of passengers who rely on the rail network across Gloucestershire.”
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director at Network Rail Western, said: “Cable theft is costing the rail industry almost £20million a year, which is money we would otherwise spend on improving and maintaining our railway.
“It’s a huge issue and one which all affected industries are committed to tackling – but we can’t do it alone. We need to see tougher sentences for cable thieves in the courts and the police must be given the powers they need to shut down any rogue scrap dealers who are found to be profiting from the travelling public’s misery.
“We’re working across the rail industry and with others, including BT and other utilities companies, to try to get changes to the laws governing scrap metal dealers and to make sure the courts hand down tougher penalties for convicted cable thieves.”
Separately, British Transport Police (BTP) officers believe a thief who attacked the rail network in Sheffield and caused over £23,000 in damages could be seriously injured.
The incident, which took place in the early hours of Thursday, 19 January, caused delays of up to 650 minutes and affected 48 trains.
Officers attended the rail line below Archer Road overbridge in Sheffield following reports of damage to cable, by Network Rail engineers working on the line. An investigation was carried out at the scene by police and a cut was found to a 650 volt cable.
Sergeant Phil Bentley, of British Transport Police, said: “We believe there may have been a flash over – a large spark or ignition – when the cable was cut, which could have caused serious burn injuries to the culprit which would have needed hospital treatment.
“We have made local enquiries at local hospitals but to no avail. We would urge the person responsible to seek medical treatment as a matter of urgency.”
Police are continuing to conduct enquiries into the incident however would like to hear from anyone who may have any information about the incident or of the person involved to come forward and assist police with the investigation.
Sgt Bentley added: “The risk these thieves take for relatively small gains is astonishing.
“What thieves don’t realise is that they are working on live cable, here with 650 volts but in some places can carry as much as 25,000 volts, which can cause extensive burns. They may have been seriously injured and could have been killed for their mindless efforts.
“The act of stealing, or attempting to steal, cable is extremely dangerous and I am urging anyone who has any information about this incident, or who saw any suspicious activity in the area, to come forward.”
And three men suspected of stealing copper cable from the railway in West Yorkshire, have been arrested in dawn raids on properties in Castleford on the morning of Monday, January 30, by officers from British Transport Police. The suspected thieves, all male, one aged 20, the other two aged 22, were arrested under suspicion of theft of railway cable by officers following raids on three houses in the Castleford area.
All three men have been taken to Pontefract police station for questioning whilst forensic officers searched the premises and surrounding areas.
Detective Sergeant Mick Dawes, of British Transport Police’s dedicated Operation Leopard team said: “These arrests form part of ongoing work we are undertaking with Network Rail and local police forces to tackle this crime, work which is having a great effect.
“As part of our efforts to trace those responsible for cable theft we visit scrap yards in the area as most cable thieves look for the quickest way to sell on the stolen goods – scrap yards are one such method. We work closely with scrap yard owners to monitor any cable which is brought in and, with assistance from railway and telecoms experts, can quickly identify stolen cable.
“The theft of cable has a direct impact on the everyday lives of the travelling public; it really is an attack on the community. The act of stealing cable is also an extremely dangerous crime which is costly to the rail industry and to the thousands of passengers who rely on the rail network.”
The arrests follow an announcement made last month by the government to abolish cash transactions made by scrap metal dealers.
Anyone with information about cable theft can call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
