Metal thefts drop by more than a half in West Berks

Figures for April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, show that there were 174 thefts of metal across West Berkshire, compared to 398 for the same period the previous year; which is 224 fewer thefts and a reduction of 56.3 per cent.
The figures for the Thames Valley region as a whole has also dropped by 48 per cent.
This reduction has been achieved after Thames Valley Police focused its attention on the market for disposal of scrap metal and set a target within the force's plan to carry out 24 metal theft operations, while also developing intelligence across the whole of the south-east region.
Over the last year, 55 targeted operations have taken place and all local police areas within the Thames Valley have seen reductions in metal theft offences as a result.
As part of its plan to tackle metal theft, the force secured part-funding from the National Metal Theft Task Force for a dedicated metal theft team composing of a sergeant and three constables, who focused on interacting with members of the scrap metal industry and ensuring they complied with current legislation and industry standards.
Officers also visited all 35 scrap metal dealers across the force as part of Operation Tornado and asked them to participate in a voluntary scheme where all transactions relating to the sale of scrap metal would require detailed documentation.
Chief constable Sara Thornton said: “This time last year, our communities faced ever increasing metal theft, with both individual thieves and highly organised crime groups stealing many metal based products such as power cabling from our roads and railway networks; lead from the roofs of homes, churches and schools; catalytic converters from vehicles; and even manhole covers from our roads.
"Thieves have consistently demonstrated total disregard for the safety of the public and themselves and this has been well evidenced by the theft of copper conductors from electricity sub-stations.
“Theft of metal impacts on many levels; it isolates communities; disrupts vitals services; threatens critical infrastructure; and represents a significant cost to the public purse – estimated to be between £500 and £700 million pounds per year.
“I am very pleased we have nearly halved metal thefts in the Thames Valley with the work we have been carrying out, but metal theft still remains a key policing priority for the force and the police crime commissioner."