Rural crime rocketing

2:17pm Friday 4th July 2008

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WILTSHIRE Police are warning of a rise in rural crime that has seen thieves stealing everything from road signs to memorial plaques.

Isolated businesses, farms and homes are increasingly being targeted by criminals who are using more and more outrageous methods to get what they want.

Sky high metal and fuel prices are thought to be behind some of the thefts, but agricultural and garden machinery, livestock and even plants are also being taken.

Now the force has set up Operation Herald to tackle the growing problem of cable and precious metals, which is having a serious effect on businesses up and down the country.

Acting Det Insp Lindsey Winter explained: "Incidents are occurring nationwide and scrap thieves have resorted to ever more bizarre techniques to capitalize on the high prices.

"Gas pipes, copper or bronze statues, even church lightning conductors have been ripped out for the sake of the scrap value."

She said: "Operation Herald aims to demonstrate Wiltshire Police's firm commitment to tackling metal theft. We aim to work with local scrap metal dealers to remind them of their responsibilities when it comes to accepting metal from the public."

In a co-ordinated approach with neighbouring forces, spot checks are to be carried out around the county to crack down on thieves or anyone accepting stolen goods and roads leading to scrap metal dealers will be put under observation using number plate recognition technology.