Metal thieves striking to cash in on price increase

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 24/07/2007

An increase in scrap metal prices has in turn seen an increase of metal thefts in the Rochdale borough. Businesses in the town centre have suffered a spate of crimes on their roofs, with culprits stealing lead and copper fixings.

Cars are also being stripped of various metal engine parts and even grids covering drains are being taken with low-lifes looking to cash in on their hoards.

Buildings on Drake Street are a common target, with some having been hit three times inside a year. Not only are the lead fixings costly to replace, their removal can cause severe damage, especially considering this summer's notorious wet weather.

Two unnamed businesses have moved away from Drake Street because of the crime spree and a third is set to wrap up their business completely and move away.

A business owner on Drake Street, who wished to remain anonymous said: "We all think we know who is doing the damage. 'They' have been back looking at my roof today to see if it's been fixed so they can plan a fourth attack. They are just laughing all the way to the scrapyard.

"These fundamental problems need solving. A clean, safe centre, where buildings can be kept looking smart, will attract both shoppers and shops and the downward spiral will have been broken.

"We need to get some common sense into how our centre should be managed and policed."

Drake Street businesses hope that by exposing what has become a severe issue, more will be done to prevent it in light of the Council's upcoming push to dramatically improve the town centre.

Meanwhile thieves are going as far as to steal metal grids from roads and weighing them in at scrapyards. This is now reportedly a common occurence in the Syke area, as well as parts of the Pennines Township.

One eye-witness said that he regularly saw grids being hauled down streets in the Syke area for the clear purpose of profit-making, whilst Keith Swift, Councillor for Milnrow amp; Newhey, said of the problem: "The low lives who are taking these grids are not only performing a criminal act, they are putting motorists and pedestrians at risk of severe injury; these occurences are on the increase and the police and the council have a responsibility to stop it."