Shropshire residents praised for helping police clamp down on metal thefts
A senior police detective has praised vigilant members of the public who continue to help police in Shropshire clamp down on metal thieves.
In fewer than 24 hours, police have arrested three men in two separate incidents, thanks to quick-thinking people reporting suspicious activity.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Edwards, head of CID in Shropshire, said both incidents showed just how important it was for police and the public to work together to tackle crime.
The first took place at about 9.40am on Thursday 14 July 2011, when staff at Oakley Arnold Ltd in Broseley reported persons allegedly stealing items of scrap metal from a neighbouring premises.
When police arrived just a few minutes later, staff had blocked in a blue Peugeot Expert van and a 23-year-old man from the Brierley Hill area was arrested at the scene.
The van and its contents were seized by police for forensic examination.
And just before 3am on Friday 15 July 2011, local residents reported people on the roof and in the grounds of Burford Primary School in Tenbury Wells, allegedly stealing lead.
They were able to guide police officers who arrived at the scene to the location of the suspects and two men from the Kidderminster area were arrested on suspicion of theft - a 30-year-old man on the roof and a 35-year-old man in the grounds.
About £500 worth of lead believed to have been removed from the roof was also recovered at the scene.
"Both these incidents show just how valuable the support of the public is in helping us tackle crime," said DCI Edwards.
"Thanks to their vigilance, police were able to get there while the suspects were still on scene and make rapid arrests.
"By working together, people can help us make a real difference to crime levels of all kinds in their area."
Operation Livewire is West Mercia Police's high profile campaign to tackle the theft of metals such as lead, copper, cast iron and steel, which has seen a significant increase over the past year.
Spot checks are carried out on any vehicle seen carrying scrap metal and random checks could also be made at any time at the county's scrap metal merchants to cut off any possible outlet for those stealing items.
"Like the police, our decent, law-abiding members of the public are sick of people stealing lead from their children's school roof or ripping out copper wire and cutting off their phone or electrical supply," added DCI Edwards.
"Offenders need to realise that we have a lot of willing eyes and ears out there and there is a strong chance they will find themselves in handcuffs sooner rather than later."
The two men arrested in Tenbury Wells remain in police custody on Friday 15 July 2011 to be interviewed. The man arrested in Broseley has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
