Vehicles checked during crack down on bogus scrap metal dealers
Tuesday 30th October, 2012
Over 20 vehicles were checked by police during a crack down on criminals trading in stolen scrap metal.
Officers stopped 28 motorists with vans or trailers believed to be filled with scrap metal in Fleetwood and Poulton to check that they were operating legitimately.
Three people were found to be trading in scrap metal; one had his vehicle seized as he had previously had his licence revoked.
Visits were also carried out at a number of scrap yards in the Wyre and Blackpool area.
In a separate incident, 41-year-old Colin Gibson, of Balmoral Terrace, Fleetwood, was arrested and charged with burglary following the theft of copper piping from a property in London Road. He will appear before Blackpool Magistrates Court on October 5.
Insp Geoff TaggNorthern operations inspector“Scrap metal theft continues to be a problem that affects the whole county and victims inevitably have to bear the brunt of replacing stolen materials and fixing damage caused by thieves."
“We are continuing to check that scrap yards are working within the legal parameters and buying from people who have legitimate access to scrap metal. We are also targeting those who steal the materials and cause misery to residents across the county.”
Anyone with information about scrap metal theft is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.
(Source: Lancashire Police)
