Three held in police blitz on metal thefts

THREE people have been arrested in Saddleworth following a day of action to clamp down on metal thieves.

Police focused their efforts on the Denshaw area, issuing over 15 fixed-penalty notices for a variety of traffic offences.

Six vehicles were seized and four people were summonsed. The area was targeted after the number of metal thefts rose by nine between January and December last year, compared with the same period the previous year.

Insp Danny Milovanovic said: “We know that our community have read and seen what has been reported by the media about thieves targeting electric and telecoms cabling and metal from cemeteries around the borough.

“What is less well known is that around a half of all metal thefts target ordinary people in their homes by stealing copper piping and boilers from heating systems and lead from roofs.

“These crimes cause misery and hardship for often vulnerable people and are particularly distressing in these cold winter months.”

The latest Operation Alloy mission, GMP’s fight against metal theft, comes after 170 homes were last week without phone lines after thieves cut cables in the Delph New Road area.

Greater Manchester Police teamed up with West Yorkshire Police, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency for the crackdown.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) also tested 16 vehicles for red diesel and two vehicles were seized for the offence and the driver’s were issued a £500 fine.

Insp Milovanovic has now urged locals to make their homes and businesses more secure and reports of suspicious behaviour can be made by dialling the new non-emergency number 101.