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| Police crackdown on metal thefts | Police crackdown on metal thefts |
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| Gwent Police are staging a second day of stop and search to tackle the growing problem of metal theft. | |
| The force is one of 38 across the UK targeting an illegal industry said to be worth £360m per year, with offences rising some 150% in two years. | The force is one of 38 across the UK targeting an illegal industry said to be worth £360m per year, with offences rising some 150% in two years. |
| Officers have visited nine sites across the force area and made eight arrests, with more expected later. | |
| The stolen metal includes statues, drain hole covers, metal from church roofs and signalling cable. | The stolen metal includes statues, drain hole covers, metal from church roofs and signalling cable. |
| Only this week, thieves looking for platinum stole an exhaust and catalytic converter from a minibus used by disabled children at a Monmouthshire school. | Only this week, thieves looking for platinum stole an exhaust and catalytic converter from a minibus used by disabled children at a Monmouthshire school. |
| One location targeted by Operation Steel was Polo Grounds Industrial Estate in Pontypool where spot checks were made on vehicles visiting two scrap metal yards. | One location targeted by Operation Steel was Polo Grounds Industrial Estate in Pontypool where spot checks were made on vehicles visiting two scrap metal yards. |
| Mark Scaife, of Environment Agency Wales's environmental crime team, said the background to the problem was scrap metal prices "going through the roof". | Mark Scaife, of Environment Agency Wales's environmental crime team, said the background to the problem was scrap metal prices "going through the roof". |
| We're picking up people who are on benefits and scrap working on the side Pauline Lohfink, police community support officer | We're picking up people who are on benefits and scrap working on the side Pauline Lohfink, police community support officer |
| He said: "Five or six years ago I had a scrap car and I had to pay £50 to have it removed. | He said: "Five or six years ago I had a scrap car and I had to pay £50 to have it removed. |
| "Now, for just scrap metal, you are looking at between £200 to £300 a tonne depending on where you take it." | "Now, for just scrap metal, you are looking at between £200 to £300 a tonne depending on where you take it." |
| Customs, pensions and transport officials also made spot checks to ensure vehicles were taxed, insured and roadworthy, and that drivers were not working while claiming benefits. | Customs, pensions and transport officials also made spot checks to ensure vehicles were taxed, insured and roadworthy, and that drivers were not working while claiming benefits. |
| Pauline Lohfink, a police community support officer, said: "It's been very successful so far. | Pauline Lohfink, a police community support officer, said: "It's been very successful so far. |
| "We're picking up people who are on benefits and scrap working on the side. | "We're picking up people who are on benefits and scrap working on the side. |
| "We've had one vehicle in where I think every agency was involved. | "We've had one vehicle in where I think every agency was involved. |
| "There was no insurance, two of them were on benefits and the vehicle was not roadworthy and was seized." | "There was no insurance, two of them were on benefits and the vehicle was not roadworthy and was seized." |
| Police insist that metal theft is "not a victimless crime". | Police insist that metal theft is "not a victimless crime". |
| The scrap value of a car can be as much as £140, say metal dealers | The scrap value of a car can be as much as £140, say metal dealers |
| Paul Crowther, British Transport Police assistant chief constable, 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." | Paul Crowther, British Transport Police assistant chief constable, 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." |
| Scrap dealer Mark Lloyd, of Fred Lloyd and Sons, said he was always careful to take customers' details so they could be passed on to police if necessary. | Scrap dealer Mark Lloyd, of Fred Lloyd and Sons, said he was always careful to take customers' details so they could be passed on to police if necessary. |
| He said: "If you turn up with scrap and you've got no ID we will take your vehicle registration. | He said: "If you turn up with scrap and you've got no ID we will take your vehicle registration. |
| "If there was something stolen, you can give police the vehicle registration that brought it in. | "If there was something stolen, you can give police the vehicle registration that brought it in. |
| "We won't buy anything unless there's a vehicle we can take the ID off." | "We won't buy anything unless there's a vehicle we can take the ID off." |
| Much of Mr Lloyd's business is scrap cars and he estimated that an average family car would now have a value of £120 to £140, instead of nothing a few years ago. | Much of Mr Lloyd's business is scrap cars and he estimated that an average family car would now have a value of £120 to £140, instead of nothing a few years ago. |
| He added that all the scrap metal brought to the yard was recycled with much of it exported to China, where there was a huge demand for steel. | He added that all the scrap metal brought to the yard was recycled with much of it exported to China, where there was a huge demand for steel. |
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| Have you or your workplace been affected by metal theft? What can be done about it? Send us your experiences and photos using the form below: | Have you or your workplace been affected by metal theft? What can be done about it? Send us your experiences and photos using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |