Police launch two-day blitz on metals theft

by Dave Keating | July 8, 2008 at 03:41 am

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As prices for metals have risen throughout the world "metal theft" has become increasingly common. In the UK, police have launched an initiative to tackle the problem.

Police have launched a nationwide blitz on the theft of metal, a fast-growing crime fuelled by rising prices on world markets and insatiable demand from booming Asian economies.

Favourite targets for thieves have been church roofs for lead, railway signalling for copper and road signs for aluminium.

Manhole covers, drain grilles and even commemorative brass plaques have also been disappearing in a crime wave estimated to be costing the country over 300 million pounds a year.

Works of art have been favourite targets in recent years, particularly those cast in bronze.