Scrap metal thefts drain resources as councils fight back

29 November 2006

Councils are ‘working around the clock’ to replace road signs and drain covers stolen by thieves looking to cash in on rising scrap metal prices.
In recent months, 385 iron drain covers have been stolen from areas in Surrey, Cambridgeshire, West Sussex, North Lincolnshire and Doncaster, resulting in £80,000 having to be spent on replacements.
The Local Government Association warns that road-users and pedestrians’ lives are being put at risk by the thefts, which mainly occur at night.
Cllr Hazel Harding, chair of the LGA’s safer communities board, said councils were replacing drains with worthless ductile steel to dissuade removal, and installing CCTV cameras and dog patrols in high-risk areas.
Powys and North Lincolnshire Councils have reported the disappearance of at least 75 chevron signs, no entry signs, village name plates and warning triangles, at a cost of £12,000.
Croydon has spent £60,000 on its mortuary and crematorium after thefts to its lead and copper roof, while Bolsover has reported a number of cases of copper wiring and cable being ripped from new housing developments and power supply sources.

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Scrap metal thefts drain resources as councils fight back

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