A gang was caught on camera attempting to plunder £50,000 worth of steel from a Black Country engine breakers yard in the region’s latest raid by metal thieves.

The group lined up several skips at F& J Exports Ltd, on Thornleigh Trading Estate, off Blowers Green Road, Dudley, but were disturbed by someone while loading them up with loose metal.

Grainy CCTV images show one of the thieves escaping from the scene, where the gang had somehow started a giant metal handling crane, which was used to load up the containers with valuable steel.

Despite being foiled in their bid – with the CCTV pictures showing them making a hasty exit after being disturbed – bosses at F& J Exports say the raiders caused thousands in damage and have put up a £2,000 reward for anyone supplying information leading to a conviction.

It is the latest in a string of audicious raids by Midlands metal thieves who have plundered everything from beer barrels to copper wire from electricity sub stations and lead from church roofs.

John Piper, from F & J Exports, said: “Everyone here is obviously very angry about it.

“Metal theft is rife in the Black Country at the moment and we’re hoping that somehow the people responsible for this can be caught. If they hadn’t been disturbed they would have got at least £50,000 worth of gear.” The security pictures show one of the men jumping over a fence to make a hasty getaway, suggesting he had been startled, perhaps by someone passing by outside.

Security has been tightened up at the site following the raid in a bid to prevent repeat attacks.

More than 100 people have been arrested as part of West Midlands Police’s biggest crackdown on metal thefts after figures showed attacks have doubled in the last year as thieves cash in on soaring steel prices.