Banbury
Metal seized in police raids
 |
| Officers study metals at Smiths, of Bloxham. No-one from the firm was arrested, but metal was taken away |
Fifty police officers mounted a major crackdown to disrupt the illegal trade in stolen metals across Oxfordshire today.
Dozens of truck drivers carrying car batteries, air conditioning ducts and scrap metal, were pulled over by Thames Valley Police and British Transport Police during stop-checks in Milton and Bloxham, north Oxfordshire.
Officers also searched nearby scrapyard Smiths, of Milton Road, Bloxham, where they confiscated 80kgs of copper cable, thought to be used on railway lines, estimated at £600.
No-one from Smiths was arrested or wanted to comment.
This evening, police were trawling through paperwork taken from the scrapyard and the names of drivers spoken to at stop-checks.
Det Sgt Gavin Collier, of Cherwell police priority crime team, said: "It will take some time for our officers to go through this paper trail, but I expect we will be making a number of arrests as a result."
Over the past 12 months, there have been at least 2,000 reports of metal thefts in Oxfordshire, ranging from old cars, lead from church roofs and wrought iron garden fencing.
Today's operation, which ran between 8.30am and noon, was one of the largest in the region.
Police believe there has been a steady rise in copper and lead theft due to the price of scrap metal on the black market increasing fourfold in the past year.
The operation focused on people selling stolen metal, not the scrapyard itself.
Supt Howard Stone, Cherwell area commander, said: "The message is clear - you cannot steal metal and sell metal here."
Thames Valley Police officers and transport police were joined by customs and excise officers, Cherwell District Council and the Environment Agency.
Automatic numberplate recognition cameras were used and 40 cars and flatbed trucks were pulled over.
Ten drivers were given fixed penalty notices for breaching waste carrier licences, one man was arrested for driving offences and a vehicle was seized.
Police said they would mount similar operations in future.
6:33pm Friday 18th April 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Albert, Oil Drum Lane on 8:17pm Fri 18 Apr 08
He, He, He.
We are on our way Harold!
They did not think of stopping the horse and cart!
He, He, He.
He, He, He.
We are on our way Harold!
They did not think of stopping the horse and cart!
He, He, He.
Posted by: alan page on 9:39pm Fri 18 Apr 08
Wonder where it will lead?
I know where they can get hold of some bagpipe which should be illegal.
Wonder where it will lead?
I know where they can get hold of some bagpipe which should be illegal.
Posted by: alan page on 9:40pm Fri 18 Apr 08
[quote][bold]alan page[/bold] wrote:
Wonder where it will lead? I know where they can get hold of some bagpipe which should be illegal.[/quote] Wonder if they got any copper?
alan page wrote:
Wonder where it will lead? I know where they can get hold of some bagpipe which should be illegal.
Wonder if they got any copper?
Posted by: Mr Ison, England on 3:09pm Sat 19 Apr 08
Historically the Jewish immigrants would clip the coins.
Nothing has really changed.
Historically the Jewish immigrants would clip the coins.
Nothing has really changed.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
