ONGOING action to crack down on metal thefts in Cheshire has been welcomed by the county’s Police Authority.

At present, officers carry out checks on scrap metal dealers, patrol vulnerable areas and encourage owners of industrial sites to step up their security.

They also work closely with British Transport Police, who investigate thefts of cable and other metal from railway property.

Chairman of Cheshire Police Authority, Margaret Ollerenshaw, described the issue of metal theft as ‘a real concern’.

“Stealing metal, including power cable and pipes carrying gas or water, sometimes results in danger, as well as inconvenience, to other people.”

Police forces in the county exchange information about stolen items discovered at scrap yards and in other locations.

And on a day of action against metal theft last month, Cheshire officers were able to stop vehicles they knew were used by metal thieves and recovered stolen property.

Cheshire Chief Constable, Dave Whatton, said the dangers of metal theft on railways was ‘one of the reasons we take this type of crime very seriously indeed’.

“If someone steals a grid or manhole cover from the road there could be serious consequences for drivers who may not spot the hole in time to avoid it,” he added.

"Many of these thefts are equally dangerous for the criminals themselves. Stealing power cables obviously presents a hazard, and pipes which carry gas or water under high pressure can also cause injury or death when they are interfered with."

“In many cases thieves see a metal item and believe they can make some easy money. The recent case when a man was sent to prison after stealing a metal plaque from the war memorial at Willaston was one example.”

Mr Whatton added: “At the other end of the scale we see criminals mount planned, military- style operations to steal large quantities of heavy-duty piping and miles of copper cable.

“Since the price of metals rose steeply we have seen an increase in this type of crime across Britain. We will continue to make every effort to put that trend into reverse.”