Saturday, September 26, 2009 - 09:37 PM

Theft of metal – I have written about this before and since my last article the thefts have become more ingenious and daring. The demand for and price of scrap metal has remained high and until it drops I fear that this is a problem, which will not be going away. I have visions of the offenders reading the FT with their morning cuppa and deciding what metals to target that day.

We are all aware of the age-old crime of stealing lead off church roofs, a problem that has escalated over the last 12 months. What you may not be aware of are some of the other ways they now target copper and lead. Electric companies often have to take you offline if they are carrying out major work in the area, to keep you supplied with power large generators are placed in your neighbourhood. These are targeted at an alarming rate as they are connected to the grid with temporary copper cables. When the cables get stolen you lose your power. In some places electric companies have to put 24hrs security o­n the generators to stop this happening.

Recently another method has come to light where the criminals are targeting roadside manholes, often in broad daylight to get at underground communications cabling. The cable will be cut at o­ne manhole and then pulled out of another several hundred yards away. To the casual passer-by someone working in a manhole with a high viz jacket o­n may not look out of place, but look again, be sure. Are there any BT or other appropriately marked company vehicles parked nearby. If a tatty looking van is pulling the cable out with its tow bar then something could be wrong.

If you are at all unsure or feel that something is wrong then give the police a call and we will check it out.

Antony Wiles PC8024 – Borough Green
8024@kent.pnn.police.uk