Metal thefts reach epidemic level as 1,000 offences are recorded each week

By
Anna Edwards

Last updated at 5:02 PM on 27th December 2011

The number of metal thefts has soared in the past five years to an epidemic proportion, with 60,000 offences recorded in just the first 10 months of this year.

Thieves have stooped to ripping metal from war memorials, rare art pieces, hospitals cemetary plaques, while also targeting railway lines,
church roofs, community centres and even manhole covers.

Lancashire, Kent, Nottinghamshire and County Durham have been particularly hit by the thieves where officers have recorded more than 2,500 metal thefts in 2011.

The number of thefts from churches has doubled in the past three years alone, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

Crimewave: A brass plaque was stolen from the memorial stone at Christ Church in Willaston, Cheshire

Crimewave: A brass plaque was stolen from the memorial stone at Christ Church in Willaston, Cheshire

Rising prices for copper, lead and bronze have led to the crimewave in metal thefts.

Thieves are so desperate to cash in on
surging metal prices it is estimated that two offenders are killed
trying to steal metal every month.

Their crimes are not only putting
their own lives in danger, they compromise the safety of the public and
workers too when they strip street lighting and copper cables from
railways.

The problem has become so chronically bad that British Transport Police now ranks the issue second only to fighting terrorism in its priorities, and the Metropolitan Police has set up a dedicated taskforce to combat the problem, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The Home Office is also pouring £5million drive to address the problem, and considering
more ‘robust’ measures to crack down on scrap yards under the 1964 Scrap
Metal Dealers Act including trade restrictions and banning cash
purchases.

Metal theft is estimated to cost the
economy more than £770 million every year as thieves target the
transport system, public buildings such as schools and hospitals, and
places of worship.

Epidemic: Thieves took a sculpture by artist Barbara Hepworth in one of the latest incidents in a spate of metal thefts

Epidemic: Thieves took a sculpture by artist Barbara Hepworth in one of the latest incidents in a spate of metal thefts

The Daily Telegraph were told by 23 police forces that 29,132 metal thefts were committed up to the beginning of November this year.

It calculated that if the levels were repeated across the country it would suggest that between 50,000 and 60,000 metal thefts were actually committed – 1,000 every week.

The previous year there were 23,743 metal thefts reported by the forces and in 2007 there were just 15,002, half the current total.

The number of offences committed on church property rose from just a few hundred in 2006 to almost 1,200 in the 10 months to November 1 this year. Nearly 6,500 churches reported thefts in five years, the figures showed.

THIEVES SNATCH PLAQUES FROM CREMATORIUM

Lowlife scrap metal thieves have stolen about fifty brass plaques from the Memorial Gardens at the County Crematorium in Towcester Road, Northampton in what police have labelled a ‘despicable’ crime.

Police are studying sets of footprints in the mud.

A spokesman said ‘This is a despicable crime committed at a time when families will be more conscious of the loss of loved ones. 

‘We are appealing for anybody who may have information regarding people or vehicles seen in the area of the crematorium to come forward either in person or via Crimestoppers.’

Last week an irreplaceable bronze sculpture insured for half a million pounds was stolen from a public park.

The 7ft piece by Dame Barbara Hepworth had stood in Dulwich Park, south London, for more than 40 years but Southwark Council staff arrived at work to be confronted by just two stumps on an empty plinth.

Authorities believe the work, called Two Forms (Divided Circle) – one of only six casts made by the  celebrated artist – was targeted for its scrap value.

Southwark Council had insured it for £500,000 but its true worth is considered to be much higher. If it is melted down for scrap, it may only fetch £750.

And one thief spent Christmas in jail after being caught trying to sell a stolen First World War memorial plaque to a scrap dealer for just £200.

Jobless Michael Coyle, 40, was captured on CCTV trying to get rid of the 5ft by 3ft bronze memorial, which went missing in July.

When the dealer realised the significance of the plaque, which was inscribed with the names of 34 men who died in the Great War, he contacted police.

Coyle was jailed for nine weeks by magistrates after admitting handling stolen goods.

One hospital was forced to cancel almost 100 operations yesterday after copper thieves stole cables used to keep a vital back-up power generator working.

Doctors put procedures on hold and will now have to carry out dozens of extra operations a day in the run up to Christmas following the raid of more than 300ft of copper wiring.

The Llandough Hospital, in South Wales, also faces costs running into many tens of thousands of pounds from lost equipment and wasted hours.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The worst metal theft is all the money being stolen from us by the government and Europe on scam tax matters such as air tax and green tax scandalous I have no loose change whatsoever since the tories got in let alone paper money

John Whetton, Nottingham, 27/12/2011
The society that those men died for doesn’t exist anymore, that’s why those plaques are been stolen. Politicians, courts and police are responsible for what’s going on in this country. Crime is not being properly punished and the establishment is making honest men into criminals while the real criminals are give carte-blanch to run riot.

Pathetic sentences by the courts and a general break down in law and order! but what can you expect from all the years of liberal social law making.

And yet again, the politicians are soooo slooow to do anything about it. Maybe they somehow profit from it, like the low energy bulbs.
Never trust a politician.

Nu labour must be made to apologise to the English public. They let these people in, to “rub our noses in it”. Now everyone is suffering. What a disgrace!

its simple to stop just put a police officer in every scrap yard in the country for a few days then on odd days here and there but regular so owners and thiefs have no chance of selling as someone has to buy the metals so they are also to blame simple really

The Police and Courts don’t give a damn.
Scrap dealers still advertise they buy any metal, lead or cable for cash.
We suffer as commuters and can’t grieve our war dead but as long as there is money in it, our moans are nothing.
Metal thieves have rights and an income.

Churches have suffered for years at the hands of these thieves stealing lead off the rooves. But the Police didn’t seem to want to know. Well now its a major crime threatening lives on the railway and other places. Message to the Police and Government – get your finger out and do something.

Then why don’t we raise the prison terms as a deterrent. 20 years per lb!

With the cost of living so high and jobs almost impossible to find and when you do you find they pay £6.08ph what did you really expect to happen? Look at the sentances the judiciary hand down for petty theft. We have at least one guy in my local area who hasn’t yet been jailed despite the fact that he has over 100 offences on his rap sheet. Greedy employers and greedy politicians have no idea what life is like to struggle by on an appalling minimum wage while they devalue the pound and invite price inflation with zirp. Crime rates will get a lot worse before things start improving. Be thankful the target is mostly metals and not household electricals.

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