Stolen £30,000 JCB sent 200ft into quarry

A stolen JCB worth £30,000 was sent plunging 200ft into a disused quarry in the Black Country by a gang of yobs.

The digger was targeted at the site of the now defunct Edwin Richards Quarry in the Rowley Hills, in an attack which left the excavator damaged.

Yobs broke in and drove the JCB around before jumping off as it headed towards the quarry edge, leaving the engine running. It then plunged into the 200ft crater.

Work at the quarry, off Portway Road, Rowley Regis, ended in 2008 as stone, known as "Rowley Rag," ran out. It has since been used for landfill for domestic and commercial waste.

Part of the site, including the quarry itself, is owned by Northampton-based Waste Recycling Group.

A second area is owned by Tarmac, which had been employing a contractor to demolish a defunct workshop and office block, when the machinery was targeted. A worker called police after seeing people taking the digger.

Pav Shergill, spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: "We took a call from someone at the quarry at around 5.30pm last Saturday.

"They told us that a group of people had got onto the site and taken a JCB which they were driving around. They then jumped out leaving the vehicle rolling before running off.

The JCB, which was worth £30,000 was left badly damaged at the bottom of the quarry."

Adrian Pickett, Tarmac Limited senior manager marketing said: "I can confirm we had an incident of trespass at Edwin Richards quarry on September 25.

"The police have been informed and we are helping them with their investigation".

Cradley Heath people said they were seriously concerned about site security. John Hadley, aged 71, of Springfield Close, a member of the Edwin Richards Quarry Liaison Committee, set up to discuss issues concerning the site.

He said: "It is only a matter of time before someone gets killed. Teens and metal thieves are routinely breaking in. I would like to see serious improvements to the perimeter fences and the introduction of 24-hour security."

Anyone with information about the damage is asked to call Sandwell Police on 0845 1135000.