Arrests follow police swoop

Police have swooped on nine men across the Black Country as part of the biggest ever crackdown on scrap metal thefts in the region.

Officers arrested seven men in Sandwell and two others were caught red-handed in Dudley trying to steal garden fencing and tools as part of Operation Steel.

Two 15-year-olds were arrested in Tipton as part of the ongoing investigation. Also an 18 year-old, 20-year-old and a 21-year-old were arrested for entering a yard in Tipton.

Further arrests were made in the West Bromwich area when 16-year-old and a 15-year-old were caught entering a yard.Officers also stopped 13 people who were sprung while on their way to scrap metal yards during yesterday's operation. And eight vehicles were stopped, one of which was seized by police.

The thieves were arrested in Summer Road Wrens Nest last night and are continuing to help police with their inquiries.

Supt Laurie Dyer, who is leading Operation Steel, said the men were attempting to drive off with 11 ornamental panels and power tools loaded onto the back of a pick-up truck.

He hailed yesterday's biggest-ever blitz on the illegal trade as "very productive" and promised it was just the "first salvo" in an on-going police campaign.

Scrap dealers in Dudley, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Tipton, Willenhall and Brownhills were all targeted during the operation yesterday.

Between April and June this year, there were 761 metal thefts and burglaries across the Black Country - an increase of 112 per cent on the same period last year.

Churches and school roofs have been stripped of lead, copper has been taken from electricity sub-stations, supermarket trolleys have been stolen, lorry loads hijacked and cars pinched and scrapped in order to cash in on the rising cost of metal.

Inspector Mark Cooper of West Bromwich, who was part of the investigation, said: "Yesterday's sting was part of an ongoing clampdown on the scourge of scrap metal theft. It is small part of an long-term strategy to deal with the problem. It was one day in a series of targeted action."

"We believe the men are local because of the weight of the heavy duty panels."