Police renew metal thefts plea

Metal thefts in Shropshire are on the increase because they generate "easy money" for criminals, it was claimed today.Thieves can earn themselves between £900 and £1,000 for a tonne of lead, and between £2,000 and £3,000 per tonne of copper.

Dave Pennill, co-owner of Pennill's Scrapyard in Hinstock, near Market Drayton, said the situation was getting out of hand and he did not envisage it getting any better.

Mr Pennill said metal thefts were on the increase because it was "easy money".

He said: "The people who come here we know anyway, and they are all regulars, but these thieves will go to sell their metal, they don't just stay in one place.

"They can also get £100 or more per tonne of steel, so they'll pinch anything."

Police in Shropshire today renewed appeals for anyone who is suspicious about workmen tampering with metal cabling, lead roof flashing, road signs and other non-ferrous metal to report it immediately, following a spate of thefts.

About 40 metres of copper tape was stolen from an electricity sub-station at the junction of Harlescott Lane and Vanguard Way, in Shrewsbury, between March 11 and 26.

And a quantity of lead was stolen from the roof of Albrighton Methodist Church in High Street, Albrighton, between just after midnight on March 20 and about 7am on March 30.

Constable Mark Hobden asked for anyone who saw anybody around the sub-station during that time to contact him on 08457 444888.

Anyone who saw someone on the roof of Albrighton Methodist Church during the past week is urged to contact Albrighton Police.

Police spokeswoman Maria Hawkaluk said often the thieves will dress like workmen in high visibility vests or work boots.

She said: "As a result, they often don't raise suspicion, but we would ask anyone who sees persons removing any kind of metal from properties or roads to call us. We can then check if the persons are genuine."

Information can also be passed on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Mounting cost of crime:

• Between March 25 and 28 - £900 of lead stripped from Whixall Social Centre's roof.

• March 26 - £1,000 of overhead electrical cable stolen from Childs Ercall.

• Between Good Friday and Easter Monday - a third of a tonne of lead was stripped from the roof of the Mount Lane Day Care Nursery in Market Drayton.

• Between March 25 and 26 - thousands of pounds of lead stolen from the roof of Market Drayton Junior School.

• Between March 11 and 26 - About 40 metres of copper tape was stolen from an electricity sub-station at the junction of Harlescott Lane and Vanguard Way, Shrewsbury.

• Between March 20 and 30 - a quantity of lead was stolen from the roof of Albrighton Methodist Church.

• March 17 - a similar lead theft at the school.

• Between March 17 and 19 - £2,000 of lead stolen from the roof of St Bartholomew's Church, Tong.

• October 31 - six to seven tonnes of lead worth £8,400 stolen from Shropshire Roofing Supplies, in Trench, Telford.

• October 31 - £3,500 of copper tubing stolen from Plumbing Trade Supplies, Hortonwood 7, Telford.

• Between September and October 2007 - £25,000 of lead stolen from the roof of St Andrew's Church, Shifnal, during three raids.

• August 2007 - nine road signs, including chevron warnings from roundabouts, costing an estimated £11,000 were stolen from Whitchurch, Shawbury and Hodnet.

• July 2007 - thieves stole a wagon containing metal worth £60,000 from Stafford Park, Telford.

• July 2007 - burglars broke into the derelict Manor Heights tower block in Telford and stole copper piping and cylinders in a £40,000 raid.

• April 2007 - thieves struck at the new Severn Hospice in Wellington in a break-in which cost the charity £10,000 and netted the criminal less than £500 when piping was ripped out of the ceiling.