Police probe great drain robbery

Increasing scrap metal prices could have triggered the thefts

Police have launched an investigation into a wave of drain cover thefts in south west Scotland.

A surge in such incidents across the country has been blamed on the rising price of scrap metal.

The latest thefts happened in Dumfries at the weekend when cast iron drain covers were taken from King Street and Summerville Crescent.

Police have said the increase in the problem mirrors the number of incidents in other parts of the UK.

They have appealed for information about the latest thefts and said those responsible were putting road users and pedestrians at risk.