Police step up metal thefts fight

Advertisement

It is believed the thefts are being driven by the increasing value of scrap metal

Police have begun an operation against gangs who have been stealing tonnes of metal from schools, churches and homes across south west England.

Devon and Cornwall detectives believe the thefts are being driven by big rises in scrap metal values worldwide.

It follows an increasing number of incidents in 2008, including the theft of bronze plaques from a war memorial in Plymouth in June.

Police say Operation Galvin has already had some successes.

Ian Johnson of the National Farmers' Union said: "If people are going to steal plaques from war memorials, they will steal anything.

"Farmers have a lot of troughs, gates, irrigation pipes.

"You name it and they have things made of metal and when it has a value, as it has at the moment, people are going to steal it."