Dozens arrested over metal thefts

The high value of metal has seen increases in thefts across the county

Dozens of people have been arrested and more than £100,000 worth of drugs seized during a police purge on thieves who are stealing scrap metal.

The soaring value of metal has seen valuable copper cables stolen from railways and other utilities.

South Yorkshire Police said 86 people were arrested during the two-day operation and £138,000 worth of drugs and property was seized.

A number of arrests were for burglary, robbery, car crime and counterfeiting.

Transport Police, customs officers and trading standards staff were deployed during the operation.

High demand

Det Supt Bill Hotchkiss, who led the operation said: "Metal theft has become quite a problem for police forces up and down the country, fuelled by the rising price of metal and global demand from developing countries.

"During the last three years these offences have quadrupled in South Yorkshire.

Thefts from utility companies alone have totalled nearly £3.5m."

Mr Hotchkiss said the dip in the value of scrap metal over the last two week had seemingly deterred some criminals, "We are keeping a close eye on the situation", he added.