Three held over theft of scrap metal

THREE people have been arrested on suspicion of the theft of copper cables.

Oldham police stopped a car in Frederick Street, Oldham on Thursday morning and officers recovered cables, burnt copper wire and copper tubing - believed to have been stolen from Metrolink and en route to a local scrap yard.

Three men aged 49, 41 and 36 were arrested and have been bailed until February 27.

Greater Manchester Police launched Operation Alloy to tackle metal theft and bring thieves to justice.

In the past eight months it has reduced the number of such crimes by up to 65 per cent. The operation was launched in response to increasing metal thefts fuelled by escalating international commodity prices for lead, copper and other metals.

PC Mark Schofield said: “Metal theft is not just about criminals targeting electric and telecoms cabling and metal from the rail and tram infrastructures. Thieves also 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.”

Anyone with information about metal theft should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.