Police campaign urges public to be alert for metal thieves

Police on patrol in Fountain Street, Morley, on Tuesday came across two teenage boys pushing a wheelchair along the road.

When quizzed about the wheelchair, the pair claimed to have collected it from the garden shed of a third boy.

But inquiries revealed the wheelchair belonged to a local supermarket which lend them to disabled customers.

The wheelchair was returned to the supermarket, and a 15-year-old boy was charged with theft. He is due to appear before Leeds Youth Court next week.

A 14-year-old boy was given a final warning and another 14-year-old boy was given a reprimand.

The incident follows a recent arrest of a man on suspicion of stealing drainage grates from streets in Tingley, near Leeds.

Residents are being encouraged to keep an eye out for activity that could be connected to metal thefts.

Insp Joanne Morgan, who leads the Morley policing team, said: “Metal thieves don’t just target cabling and copper piping, they look to make a quick few quid through very ordinary items that are worth their weight in scrap.

“Items which have been targeted in the past include lead flashing from roofs of house, outside taps, patio furniture, and other property such as gates. Many thefts like this may seem minor to some people, but ultimately those responsible are taking items which people have worked hard to pay for and will probably incur a cost to replace.

“I would urge residents to keep an eye out for suspicious activity because of the possibility that they are witnessing a metal theft in action.”

The number of metal thefts in the Morley area have recently fallen following a six-month operation involving the police and Leeds Council which targeted rogue traders of scrap metal.

Insp Morgan said: “We will be keeping up the pressure on scrap metal traders in the coming months to continue reducing the number of thefts, and encourage members of the public to keep reporting suspicious activity to us.”

To report a metal theft in West Yorkshire call police on 0845 6060606.