Fresh appeal after metal thefts

Police are appealing for anyone who sees suspicious workmen tampering with metal cabling or lead to report it after a spate of thefts in Shropshire.

West Mercia Police is investigating several incidents of metal and lead thefts in recent weeks.

About 40m (131ft) of copper tape was stolen from an electricity sub-station in Shrewsbury and lead was stolen from Albrighton Methodist Church.

The thieves will often dress like workmen, police said.

"As a result, they often don't raise suspicion, but we would ask anyone who sees persons removing any kind of metal from properties or roads to call us.

"We can then check if the persons are genuine," they said.

"With the Shrewsbury cable theft, the offenders have broken into the compound, putting their own lives at risk due to the high voltage.

"Although it still accounts for just one per cent of the total recorded crimes in West Mercia, such theft of non-ferrous metal is country-wide problem as world-wide demand increases."