12 held in stolen scrap metal blitz

A POLICE operation to tackle scrap-metal thefts across Oldham and other parts of Greater Manchester on Friday resulted in 12 arrests.

Operation Alloy involved 200 Greater Manchester Police officers raiding 65 auto-salvage and scrap dealers to search for stolen metals.

Eight were arrested for possession or theft of metals, and four others on suspicion of driving while disqualified, immigration issues, serious assault and theft of a motor vehicle.

Roadside operations targeting illegal transport of metal and other materials resulted in number-plate checks on 342 vehicles, with 51 of them stopped and searched, and 33 others seized for insurance-related offences. They included the driver of a 7.5 tonne tipper truck who received a £300 fixed-penalty notice in Knowls Lane, Lees, for not having waste-transfer notes.

More than £20,000 of telecoms cabling from BT, Virgin and Vodafone was recovered as was £650 of brass fittings taken from Electricity North-West. Police also seized in Manchester 136kg of stolen power cable for trams, with a scrap value of £516 but replacement costs estimated at more than £10,000 plus labour charges.

Police were supported by officers from British Transport Police and engineers and staff from 18 partner agencies including telecoms, electricity, water, rail and tram companies, the Environment Agency, Department for Works and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs.

The Environment Agency prosecuted 11 owners of vehicles that were not licensed to carry waste.

Chief Supt Neil Wain, who headed Operation Alloy, said: “Through working together we have brought a dozen offenders to justice and disrupted a wide range of criminal activity.

“We have also sent out a clear message to those who make people’s lives miserable by damaging homes, properties and our infrastructure that we are on their tails and will be coming to see them soon.

“Criminals and the good people of our county can be assured that Operation Alloy will continue to target those who steal or handle stolen metals over the coming months.”

Anyone with information about suspected metal thefts can call police on 0161-872 5050 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.