Police seize £62,000 in raid on scrap metal yard

THE owners of a scrap metal yard have been arrested and more than £60,000 in cash, closed circuit TV footage and computer hard drives seized in raids in Goole.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Mar 2012, 06:00 BST

Police executed search warrants on Wagstaff Recycling on Long Lane and a house in Templar Close, arresting 14 people.

Six, including the yard owners and management, were interviewed at Selby Police Station and then released on bail, while eight workers were arrested and bailed on the spot.

A cash sniffer dog was used to search the premises and £62,000 seized. A small amount of telecoms cable was found. Det Insp Paul Langley, from British Transport Police, said: “This operation targeted a key scrap metal dealer who we suspect of handling stolen metal and profiting from proceeds of metal theft and money laundering.”

Metal thefts have become an increasing problem across the Yorkshire region as the value of scrap has soared.