Gangs strike for metals
Violent gangs are launching terrifying attacks on firms across the Black Country and the West Midlands to steal valuable copper, bronze and stainless steel. Violent gangs are launching terrifying attacks on firms across the Black Country and the West Midlands to steal valuable copper, bronze and stainless steel. Shock new figures show the near-daily stings have now reached epidemic levels, with one Wolverhampton insurance company alone handling reported losses of up to £200,000 every week. In one attack alone, thieves got away with £130,000 worth of stainless steel while in another two security guards were so traumatised that they both quit their jobs. In that case, £35,000 worth of bronze and stainless steel was taken from a foundry. Read the full story in the Express & Star
Shock new figures show the near-daily stings have now reached epidemic levels, with one Wolverhampton insurance company alone handling reported losses of up to £200,000 every week.
In one attack alone, thieves got away with £130,000 worth of stainless steel while in another two security guards were so traumatised that they both quit their jobs.
In that case, £35,000 worth of bronze and stainless steel was taken from a foundry.
Soaring metal prices on the world markets, pushed up by demand from China and the Far East, have made raw metals, blanks and even finished engineering goods top targets for thieves.
Richard Ward, director of Wolverhampton insurance group KGJ, said today: "In the Black Country, almost every day we are getting reports of someone being hit by thieves, whether it is scrap or swarf from a skip to a lorry-load being taken.
"There is nothing subtle about any of this. In one case the thieves spent two days smashing their way through a wall. The factory owners repaired the wall after the first night but they came back the second night and finished the job.
"And they can be very violent. We are getting increasing reports of security guards and drivers being threatened and even beaten up.
"In one case two security guards on the site were attacked, had their personal possessions stolen and one even had his car stolen by the thieves. Both quit their jobs afterwards.
"We are even seeing copper piping being stolen from sites where homes are under construction."
