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Three vehicles seized in metal theft operation

Northumbria Police

11 February 2011


Police in Sunderland have arrested eight men and seized three vehicles as part of an operation to tackle metal theft.
Throughout the day on Friday (February 11) police targeted thieves attempting to sell stolen metal to scrap metal yards across Sunderland.
A quantity of metal, believed to have been stolen, has also been recovered.
Two men, aged 25 and 20,  were arrested on Friday morning on suspicion of stealing metal when police stopped a vehicle outside one scrap metal yard in the west of the city. The vehicle, along with a quantity of metal, was seized by police.
Another man, 26-years-old, was arrested in Hendon on suspicion of driving offences.
On Friday, a further two arrests were made for stealing metal.
Overnight on Thursday, two men, aged 25 and 19, were arrested in Southwick on suspicion of stealing metal and a third 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary, also in Southwick.
Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Barrett, said: "The rise in value of metal has made it appealing to thieves as they think it is easy to sell. However, by working with scrap metal dealers we are making it even more difficult for them.
"Throughout the day we worked with scrap metal yards and other agencies across Sunderland, Houghton and Washington, to identify people who are believed to be trying to sell metal that could've been stolen. The operation has seen eight people arrested and three vehicles suspected of being used to transport stolen items have been seized.
"Anyone suspected of being involved in stealing metal should be warned that we will continue to target them and they not only face being arrested but, if they are using a vehicle to transport the stolen goods, we will seize the vehicle."
Operation Attest was launched in January in response to a rise in the amount of metal being stolen and has so far seen more than 30 people arrested.