Price rises 'behind metal thefts'

Price rises in aluminium and copper are thought to be behind the thefts

Metal worth more than £300,000 has been stolen in Surrey in 160 thefts during the first five months of this year.

Police said crimes had taken place at building sites, commercial yards and scrap yards. Garden ornaments had also been taken for their scrap metal value.

The force said recent price rises of copper and aluminium were thought to be behind the spate of incidents.

Meanwhile, a large drum of copper cable was stolen after a lorry driver was ambushed in Kent on Thursday.

He was flagged down by two men on the A299 Thanet Way just before midday.

His Volvo flatbed lorry was then taken and its cargo was unloaded before the vehicle was dumped.

Kent Police said the theft of the copper cable was down to its "current high value and attractiveness to thieves".

Officers in Surrey said it would require about two or three men using a lorry or trailer to steal and move metal goods.

Det Ch Insp William Lyle said the force was determined to catch the people responsible for the thefts, which he said were seriously damaging the businesses targeted.

He asked anyone who saw metal being loaded on to vehicles from businesses outside normal working hours to dial 999 immediately.