Metals Theft in Context

As supplies of all types of metal have diminished and metal prices increased, demand for scrap metal is high and metal theft will occur anywhere that metal is available, especially the high value types, e.g. copper, lead, aluminium, etc.

The cost in disruption and repairs to companies, local authorities and private homeowners is now running at £362m a year. One estimate puts the value of the metal stolen at barely a tenth of that figure.

Criminality poses significant risk to industry and commercial practice.

There is a threat to the national infrastructure and there is also a risk of personal injury or death to offenders, employees, commuters, emergency services and the public in general caused by the prolonged theft of metals.

Metal theft crimes have been recorded in household and commercial premises, storage areas and storage depots, farms, power stations, beside railway lines, beneath streets and from communication masts.

Organised offenders are known to use various vehicles to remove metal from sites. Transit style vans with high roofs, flat bed lorries, adapted skip lorries and HIAB lorries which have lifting capabilities have all been used in the commission of metal thefts.   The vicinity of locations to major arterial roads suggests the use of larger vehicles and the willingness of some offenders to travel long distances to commit crime.

There is difficulty in establishing ownership of recovered metals which may be stolen from Underground Telecoms Systems, Storage Facilities, Builders Merchants and Suppliers, Water Treatment Works, Electricity Substations, Communication Masts, Electricity Pylons, Safety Railings, Licensed Premises, Hospitals, Schools, Stately Homes, Residential Properties, Metallic Pavement and Highway Covers, New Build Developments, Scrap yards, Farms, Motor Vehicles, Bronze Statues, Cemeteries, etc.

For more information on current issues, please see our Metals Theft News Articles