Over recent months the price of metal has increased in value significantly. As a result of this, metal has become desirable for its "weighing in" value as scrap. The Safer Neighbourhoods covering the East of Sheffield have all received calls relating to metal thefts since this rise in value. Sheffield Forum has also seen many posts from users concerned over metal thefts. Some of the thefts reported ranged from manhole covers being stolen, electricity sub stations being stripped of its protective cabling and nuisance scrap vans scowering the streets of the areas taking metal from premises without consent.
On Wednesday 22nd June 2011 Officers and agency partners (including VOSA and Sheffield Environmental Services) worked together covering the East of Sheffield on Operation Rapier, an operation designed to identify those responsible for these thefts and disruptive behaviour. The results of the operation which took place over just 1 day are as below.
10 x Scrap vehicles stopped in check point
7 x Scrap vehicles stopped by mobile VOSA and Safer Neighbourhood Team vehicles
17 x Vehicles issued with Sheffield City Council Stop Notices
10 x Sheffield City Council Producers issued
5 x Reported on summons for Sheffield City Council matters
3 x Immediate prohibitions VOSA
2 x Delayed prohibitions VOSA
4 x Benefit Fraud reports
1 x vehicle recovered for no insurance
1 x £80.00 ticket for public order offences
2 x £200 tickets issued alongside 6pts to be endorsed on driving licences for driving with no insurance
2 x Fixed Penalty Notices issued for other offences
With these excellent results future operations are planned to continue to drive down metal thefts.
Should you have any information to support any future operations we are carrying out please contact PC 160 Kirkham on 0114 2963779.