Metal thefts at three-year high in the West Midlands

There were 840 offences recorded by police in the region in 2020-21– up from 620 the year before.

It accounts for a 35 per cent rise and was the most since 2017-18 when 908 were reported, according to the Office for National Statistics data.

Of the thefts last year, 258 included offences such as metal being stripped from buildings and electricity or railway cables being taken.

The remaining offences accounted for crimes such as stealing scrap metal.

The rise followed a national trend, with the Local Government Association saying it is "extremely damaging and costly" for businesses and those affected.

The LGA said the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 – brought in to crack down on the trade in stolen metal – was initially successful, but rates have now risen.

Nesil Caliskan, chair of the LGA's safer and stronger communities board, said: “Metal theft can affect a range of people and businesses and is extremely damaging and costly.

"Councils target their resources as efficiently as possible and do what they can to support businesses to meet the requirements of the legislation – and can take enforcement action where issues are identified."

She added the LGA is calling on the Government to update the Scrap Metal Dealers Act and introduce an offence of advertising for and receiving cash for scrap metal to act as a deterrent.

The ONS said the nine per cent increase in overall offences nationally came after improved recording of the theft of catalytic converters, which contain precious metals.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We funded the set-up of the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership, which ensures national co-ordination of policing and law enforcement partners to tackle metal theft, including vehicle and agricultural-related theft.

“The partnership has provided training to law enforcement and other partner agencies, shares intelligence to target offenders, and implements crime prevention measures.”

Politicians have said more needs to be done to stop the thieves.

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi, Warley MP John Spellar and Aldridge-Brownhills MP Wendy Morton have all said more should be done.

Mr Longhi said: "We need to use every measure at our disposal to stop this as it is terrible because people can be left without any lead cladding around their windows or people are having car parts stolen.

"People need to do what they can to prevent, using non-metal alternatives where possible, but also asking the police to be extra vigilant if there's a particular area that is being targeted.

"The people who are stealing this stuff are trying to convert it into money and that is where we need to really hurt them and find out what's going on and if recycling centres are taking on any scrap metal.

"I will be asking questions of Dudley Council and trading standards and working to ensure they are asking the questions and taking them to task."

Mr Spellar said: "It's clearly a worrying development because it would seem to indicate that the controls brought in on scrap metal dealers either aren't working or the police have been focussing on other crimes.

"The impact to businesses and, very often, the railways and electrical utilities can be very considerable, so we need to get back to the drawing board and crack down on it to stop it escalating.

"I will certainly talk to Trading Standards and the police to see what's happening with this trend and what action we can take."

Ms Morton said: "I'm extremely concerned that metal theft is affecting so many residents and businesses in Aldridge-Brownhills.

"Whilst I commend our local police on their work, such crime now stands at a three-year high.

"Crimes such as this demonstrate why in my constituency we deserve a fair share of all new Police Officers being recruited by West Midlands Police.

"And it further demonstrates why retaining Aldridge Police Station is essential to help combat crime of this nature and others.

"I will continue to campaign to ensure the safety of my Aldridge-Brownhills constituents."