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| Police target rising metal thefts | Police target rising metal thefts |
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| Police across the UK are targeting metal thieves in a two-day operation against a crime said to be costing the economy £360m every year. | Police across the UK are targeting metal thieves in a two-day operation against a crime said to be costing the economy £360m every year. |
| Drain covers, lead from church roofs and railway signal cables are among the items being stolen by thieves. | Drain covers, lead from church roofs and railway signal cables are among the items being stolen by thieves. |
| Thirty-eight police forces have teamed up for the crackdown, which includes visits to scrap yards and suspected transporters of metal. | Thirty-eight police forces have teamed up for the crackdown, which includes visits to scrap yards and suspected transporters of metal. |
| Emerging economies' rising demand for metal is said to be fuelling the crime. | Emerging economies' rising demand for metal is said to be fuelling the crime. |
| Theft of metal in the UK is said to have risen on average by 150% in the last 24 months as prices rise - in some cases by as much as 100% - because of demand from economies such as China's and India's. | Theft of metal in the UK is said to have risen on average by 150% in the last 24 months as prices rise - in some cases by as much as 100% - because of demand from economies such as China's and India's. |
| Disruption caused | Disruption caused |
| Assistant Chief Constable Paul Crowther, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on metal theft, insisted it was not a victimless crime. | Assistant Chief Constable Paul Crowther, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on metal theft, insisted it was not a victimless crime. |
| He said: "Thousands of people have seen their community facilities stolen or damaged by thieves looking for a quick gain, or have suffered service disruption to railways and telecoms. | He said: "Thousands of people have seen their community facilities stolen or damaged by thieves looking for a quick gain, or have suffered service disruption to railways and telecoms. |
| "The problem ranges from opportunistic to large-scale organised theft. | "The problem ranges from opportunistic to large-scale organised theft. |
| "This has a huge impact across the country - not just financially, but in people's everyday lives." | "This has a huge impact across the country - not just financially, but in people's everyday lives." |
| Det Insp Peter Jones talks about the operation in Gwent | |
| In May, a medieval church in County Durham suffered £10,000 damage when thieves stole lead from its roof. | In May, a medieval church in County Durham suffered £10,000 damage when thieves stole lead from its roof. |
| The roof of St Mary's church, in Staindrop, near Barnard Castle, which was founded in 771, is still covered by plastic sheeting while it awaits its insurance settlement. | The roof of St Mary's church, in Staindrop, near Barnard Castle, which was founded in 771, is still covered by plastic sheeting while it awaits its insurance settlement. |
| Vicar Ken Steventon told the BBC News website: "It's always a sickening feeling, just as if your house had been broken into. A lot of people in the parish were devastated." | Vicar Ken Steventon told the BBC News website: "It's always a sickening feeling, just as if your house had been broken into. A lot of people in the parish were devastated." |
| Among the cases of metal theft in the last year highlighted by Acpo are: | Among the cases of metal theft in the last year highlighted by Acpo are: |
| • Communities losing power after thieves targeted substations | • Communities losing power after thieves targeted substations |
| • A house exploding after gas copper tubing was stolen | • A house exploding after gas copper tubing was stolen |
| • Delays on mainline rail lines after thieves took signal cable | • Delays on mainline rail lines after thieves took signal cable |
| Police added that one death and eight serious injuries had been caused during metal thefts. | Police added that one death and eight serious injuries had been caused during metal thefts. |
| Police have been working with the British Metal Recycling Association to assist them in helping scrap metal dealers comply with trading legislation. | Police have been working with the British Metal Recycling Association to assist them in helping scrap metal dealers comply with trading legislation. |
| They are also helping to identify scrap dealers who are unlicensed and trading illegally. | They are also helping to identify scrap dealers who are unlicensed and trading illegally. |
| ACC Crowther added: "By removing the market for stolen metals, the theft becomes much less attractive and so we are encouraging scrap metal dealers to be particularly vigilant in reporting to police if they suspect metals have been stolen." | ACC Crowther added: "By removing the market for stolen metals, the theft becomes much less attractive and so we are encouraging scrap metal dealers to be particularly vigilant in reporting to police if they suspect metals have been stolen." |
| The targeted operation is due to finish on Tuesday. | The targeted operation is due to finish on Tuesday. |