Police officers set out to tackle metal theft during dedicated 'action day' (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Police officers set out to tackle metal theft during dedicated 'action day'

4:39pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News

POLICE officers across Cumbria have been checking on their local scrap dealers today as part of a dedicated metal theft action day.

Officers were ensuring dealers were working within the legislation of cashless transactions and identification checks.

They also checked on those who were visiting the scrap yard to make sure that everything was in order.

Between February 2012 and Jan 2013 there have been 157 fewer reported metal thefts than in the preceding twelve months.

This shows metal theft in the county has gone down around 30%,since Operation Amber began in early 2012.

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Qazi, who continues to lead the operations, said: “It is vital that we continue to send out a strong message that metal theft will not be tolerated in our county and that our scrap dealers are on board.

“People who travel from other parts of the country to try and sell their metal here will be in for a surprise with a large percentage of our dealers being rigorous in their identification checks and logging important details.

“If found that the metal has been stolen, then the scrap dealer does lose out, because that is seized as evidence and they have already paid out for the metal. So it is in their interest to support us.

“The new cashless system has been in place for a number of months now and police officers who are visiting dealers in the area will be asking them how they are finding the system and see if there is anything which we need feedback.

“It is great to see that all of the hard work by the scrap dealers, police officers and our partner agencies as paid off and that we are seeing a reduction in the theft of metal. However, we will not become complacent and will continue to target those who think they can steal in our communities."

If you see anything suspicious in your area, contact Cumbria Police on 101 or if a crime is taking place, 999.

For any crime prevention advice ask to speak to your local community safety officer.