Explosions, evacuated streets and rail disruption all pose the question – what price for a piece of scrap metal?

Thieves who strip our streets of metal grates, rip copper from the rail network, causing delays, and plunge homes into darkness by plundering electricty sub-stations are not just an inconvenience – potentially they are putting lives in danger.

The escalating value of scrap metal has seen a significant increase in metal theft, a crime police are eager to combat.

A nursing home at Roberttown in the Spen Valley suffered a series of short circuits and homes were left without electricity in the village when thieves recently targeted an electricity sub-station.

In a similar incident in June, around 300 properties were left without electricity after thieves broke into a sub-station at the junction of Pyenot Drive and Pyenot Avenue, Cleckheaton. In the same month, a 6ft length of pipe, linking to a meter with a boiler, was cut from the outside wall of a house in Keighley, causing a gas leak.

Earlier this year, the occupant of a house in Mirfield escaped unscathed following an explosion caused by a gas leak after thieves stole copper piping fixing the gas meter to the boiler at the back of the property, and last year homes and businesses were evacuated from a street in Saltaire because of fears of a gas explosion after a section of copper piping was stolen from a first-floor flat.

Tim Field, from the Energy Networks Association, says: “Metal theft continues to be a growing problem across the country. Criminals are dicing with death and risking their lives for scrap metal that provides a tiny return that is only a fraction of the damage they cause.”

He says this year they have seen the number of metal thefts double compared with last year.

Homes and streets aren’t the only target. During the past three years, cable theft on the railway has cost more than £43 million and resulted in 16,000 hours of delays – a loss of more than 666 days of rail travel.

Launching a poster campaign – a collaboration between British Transport Police, Network Rail and the Association of Train Operating Companies to encourage communities to make a stance against the crime – British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Alan Pacey said: “These figures represent the real cost to UK communities, and the enormous number of delays means that thousands upon thousands of people will have missed vital appointments, days at work and hospital visits, among other activities, all so a minority of criminals can make a few pounds.”

The campaign, launched last Friday, coincided with a national day of action against metal theft.

“Metal and cable theft is one of the biggest challenges we face,” says Mr Pacey. “In a time of falling crime figures, metal theft has risen by more than 70 per cent during the past year and, as a result, has had an enormous impact on the rail passengers across the UK.

Mr Pacey says BTP officers and their rail industry colleagues are working closely with scrap metal dealers to prevent thieves being able to sell on the stolen metal.

Detective Inspector Mick Jackson, of Operation Leopard, BTP’s dedicated cable and metal theft team, spoke of the potential dangers of the crime: “Stealing railway cable is incredibly dangerous. It presents severe dangers to those who trespass on the line and who are putting their lives at risk.

“A number of people have been badly injured or burned attempting to steal cable, and it’s only a matter of time before someone gets electrocuted or struck by a train and killed. Is it worth it for £50 in your pocket?”

Ian Hetherington, director-general of the British Metals Recycling Association, says the organisation is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and industries, including telecommunications, railways, utilities and construction that use products containing valuable metals.

“The recently-launched code of practice is a strong reflection of our commitment to tackling the problem and how the industry is supporting businesses to reduce the amount of incidents,” he says. “I am confident it will deter thieves, and I would like to thank all metal recycling facilities for their co-operation in putting the guidelines into practice.”

Mr Hetherington says the association is calling for changes in environmental regulations to focus on stamping out non-compliant or illegal operators blighting the industry.

“It is important to remind homeowners and businesses, including metals recyclers, who regularly suffer attacks from criminals, to seek rapid police response. Experience shows that robust policing and attention to security procedures are important deterrents to thieves,” he saysxplosions, evacuated streets and rail disruption all pose the question – what price for a piece of scrap metal?

Thieves who strip our streets of metal grates, rip copper from the rail network, causing delays, and plunge homes into darkness by plundering electricty sub-stations are not just an inconvenience – potentially they are putting lives in danger.

The escalating value of scrap metal has seen a significant increase in metal theft, a crime police are eager to combat.

A nursing home at Roberttown in the Spen Valley suffered a series of short circuits and homes were left without electricity in the village when thieves recently targeted an electricity sub-station.

In a similar incident in June, around 300 properties were left without electricity after thieves broke into a sub-station at the junction of Pyenot Drive and Pyenot Avenue, Cleckheaton. In the same month, a 6ft length of pipe, linking to a meter with a boiler, was cut from the outside wall of a house in Keighley, causing a gas leak.

Earlier this year, the occupant of a house in Mirfield escaped unscathed following an explosion caused by a gas leak after thieves stole copper piping fixing the gas meter to the boiler at the back of the property, and last year homes and businesses were evacuated from a street in Saltaire because of fears of a gas explosion after a section of copper piping was stolen from a first-floor flat.

Tim Field, from the Energy Networks Association, says: “Metal theft continues to be a growing problem across the country. Criminals are dicing with death and risking their lives for scrap metal that provides a tiny return that is only a fraction of the damage they cause.”

He says this year they have seen the number of metal thefts double compared with last year.

Homes and streets aren’t the only target. During the past three years, cable theft on the railway has cost more than £43 million and resulted in 16,000 hours of delays – a loss of more than 666 days of rail travel.

Launching a poster campaign – a collaboration between British Transport Police, Network Rail and the Association of Train Operating Companies to encourage communities to make a stance against the crime – British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Alan Pacey said: “These figures represent the real cost to UK communities, and the enormous number of delays means that thousands upon thousands of people will have missed vital appointments, days at work and hospital visits, among other activities, all so a minority of criminals can make a few pounds.”

The campaign, launched last Friday, coincided with a national day of action against metal theft.

“Metal and cable theft is one of the biggest challenges we face,” says Mr Pacey. “In a time of falling crime figures, metal theft has risen by more than 70 per cent during the past year and, as a result, has had an enormous impact on the rail passengers across the UK.

Mr Pacey says BTP officers and their rail industry colleagues are working closely with scrap metal dealers to prevent thieves being able to sell on the stolen metal.

Detective Inspector Mick Jackson, of Operation Leopard, BTP’s dedicated cable and metal theft team, spoke of the potential dangers of the crime: “Stealing railway cable is incredibly dangerous. It presents severe dangers to those who trespass on the line and who are putting their lives at risk.

“A number of people have been badly injured or burned attempting to steal cable, and it’s only a matter of time before someone gets electrocuted or struck by a train and killed. Is it worth it for £50 in your pocket?”

Ian Hetherington, director-general of the British Metals Recycling Association, says the organisation is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers and industries, including telecommunications, railways, utilities and construction that use products containing valuable metals.

“The recently-launched code of practice is a strong reflection of our commitment to tackling the problem and how the industry is supporting businesses to reduce the amount of incidents,” he says. “I am confident it will deter thieves, and I would like to thank all metal recycling facilities for their co-operation in putting the guidelines into practice.”

Mr Hetherington says the association is calling for changes in environmental regulations to focus on stamping out non-compliant or illegal operators blighting the industry.

“It is important to remind homeowners and businesses, including metals recyclers, who regularly suffer attacks from criminals, to seek rapid police response. Experience shows that robust policing and attention to security procedures are important deterrents to thieves,” he says