British Transport Police (BTP), Home Office forces and a variety of agencies, including the Environment Agency, HM Revenue and Customs, and SmartWater have come together for a nationwide ‘Day of Action’, targeting metal thieves.
The day saw teams of Law Enforcement officers from around England, Scotland and Wales target thieves and their means of carrying and selling on any stolen metal. World markets have seen 12 months of steady increases in metal prices, which have led to rises in the number of thefts of copper cabling, lead flashing and other metal.
SmartWater’s Police Liaison and Crime Support Teams attended raids at scrap yards in Kent, Merseyside, Cambridgeshire, and West Yorkshire to support local officers and search for any stolen metal marked with SmartWater. Any metals marked with SmartWater can be forensically traced back to their true owner, thereby establishing a link to a specific crime scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Jones, who headed up the Day of Action for British Transport Police, said: "Cable and metal theft is high on BTP's and Home Office Polices agenda due to the disruption and economic effect it has on businesses and communities and we will be working to drive home that message."
Metal theft emerged as a nationwide problem in 2006, when the price of metals on world markets began to soar. Since then thieves have targeted the railway industry, telecommunications providers, electricity and other utility companies, municipal buildings, churches and heritage buildings. However the value of any metal stolen often pales into insignificance compared to the damage done during thefts and the subsequent repair bills.
SmartWater is widely used across the UK to protect metals, with over 30,000 churches using SmartWater to mark lead roofing. Companies including Anglian Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, and Scottish Power are also using SmartWater on a range of metals, such as copper piping and cabling.
Nationwide recyclers, including EMR and SITA UK, are actively checking for SmartWater and reserve the right to refuse it if any traces of the forensic liquid are found. By doing so they are hoping to make it increasingly difficult for thieves to sell on any stolen goods, thereby removing the point of stealing it in the first place.
SmartWater Chief Executive, Phil Cleary, said: “A large number of SmartWater personnel were involved in the Day of Action and in supporting Law Enforcement Agencies across the UK. We will continue to do all we can to support these Agencies to help combat metal theft.”