Alloy, alloy, alloy... scrapyards swoop

Police inspectConnell scrapyard looking for stolen metals.

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SCRAPYARDS in Oldham were targeted as part of Greater Manchester Police’s force-wide day of action to tackle metal theft.

Three scrap metal yards out of 18 in the borough were visited by police officers and partner agencies — Connell’s, in Mossdown Road, Heyside, Royton; Monarch Metals, Arkwright Street, and Greengate Scrap Metals, Moston Road, Chadderton.

No metal seizures were made and no-one was arrested.

Across Greater Manchester, there were 27 raids on scrap yards.

Police made 11 arrests — six for metal theft, two for driving off without paying for fuel and one each for drink-driving, driving while disqualified and immigration offences.

This latest clampdown was part of a national day of action and continues the work of Operation Alloy, GMP’s response to increasing metal thefts.

Police were supported by engineers and staff from a dozen partner agencies including telecoms, electricity, water, rail and tram companies, Oldham Council environmental health officers, the Environment Agency, Department for Works and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs.

Roadside operations targeting illegal transport of metal and other materials saw checks on 253 vehicles resulting in 18 vehicles being seized for insurance related and other offences.

Other offences led to 35 Fixed Penalty Notices, three prohibitions on vehicles and 19 summons offences being served.

The Department for Works and Pensions took 29 actions for benefit frauds and the Environment Agency served three enforcement notices.

HM Revenue and Customs seized six vehicles for using red diesel.

A total of 268kg of BT copper cable was recovered from two scrap yards in Weaste, in Salford, and Hulme, in Manchester.

The scrap value was less than £1,000 but engineers estimated the cost of replacing the cable would be over £10,000. Cable belonging to Virgin Telecoms with a value of £370 was also recovered.

PC Mark Schofield, co-ordinator for the Oldham Division, said 42 per cent of reported metal thefts across Greater Manchester happened in Rochdale, Bolton and Wigan, followed by Oldham, Salford and North Manchester.

Supt Craig Thompson, who headed the day of action, said: “After Friday’s raids, metal thieves will be in no doubt that we are serious about bringing them to justice for the misery they have been spreading across our county.

“We will over the coming months continue to target them and the scrap yards that help them profit from their crimes by accepting stolen goods.

“We will also be working with scrap yard owners to encourage them to adopt work practices that make it harder for offenders to off load stolen metals on them.

“The public can also help us by providing information about suspicious activity either directly to us on 0161-872 5050 or anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”