Scrap thefts in the area have increased to 30 a month and police are asking for help from the public to stop it escalating further.
The figure has been released by the police to shock the public into action and they are asking the public to be vigilant over vehicles involved in the transport of goods, such as flat bed vans.
“We ask the public to be extra vigilant and to report suspicious activity to the police,” said Sergeant Kelvin Briggs. “This includes taking registration numbers of any suspicious vehicles that they’ve seen and taking descriptions of individuals you think may be up to no good. I’d also like to hear any information about who is committing this crime or who may be buying it knowing it is stolen.
“We do target illegal waste carriers and scrap metal collectors but the information we can get from the public is vital in helping us tackle metal thefts.
“And I’d also remind people not to leave their scrap metal out on display but to secure it away where possible. We’ve had several cases recently of scrap being taken from driveways and gardens, including old cookers and washing machines. If you plan to sell these items on, don’t leave them on display.”
Anyone seeking crime prevention advice on metal thefts can call 101.