Shock rise in metal thefts across the region

A shocking explosion in metal thefts has seen 600 attacks on homes and businesses across the Black Country in just seven weeks.

Today the Express & Star can reveal how thieves are exploiting lax laws that allow them to arrive at scrap merchants in taxis and even pushing their haul in prams.

Dudley is the area worst hit by thieves cashing in on rocketing prices of lead, copper and steel fuelled by a construction boom in the Middle East - as it emerged forklift trucks were used to steal £30,000 of metal from a firm in the borough.

Crooks broke into Dudley Electroplating on the Central Trading Estate in Shaw Road last weekend and stole 30 brass bars and 10 titanium cages, despite the cages being dipped in acid.

A £1,000 reward was put up today to catch the gang.

West Midlands Police figures released today show there were 598 metal thefts between July 1 and Tuesday of this week — up by 240 per cent from 176 on the same period last year.

Figures show Dudley has been hit 182 times since July 1, while Sandwell has been struck 181 times. Walsall and Wolverhampton police recorded 119 and 116 crimes respectively.

That means that in Dudley, more than six per cent of the recorded crimes were metal thefts.

Wolverhampton South East MP Labour Pat McFadden said today no other line of business would accept cash payments without proof of identity.

The law allows deals to be done without proof of ID, meaning crooks can quickly convert stolen metal into fast cash. Mr McFadden said: "This is a case where regulations need to be tightened to stop stolen property being passed on so easily."

Dudley South Tory MP Chris Kelly added: "I support a strengthening of the law. It is a big problem and I will seek to take it up with the relevant Home Office ministers."

Special investigation in Friday's Express & Star.