Metal theft epidemic at crisis point as even street sign is stolen
METAL thieves have stolen an old street sign from outside a Burton pub — prompting the inn’s owner to warn residents to lock up their belongings.
The Grange Close sign, a metal plate screwed to a wooden board attached to two concrete posts, is thought to have been stolen on Wednesday or Thursday of last week.
Bill Ganley, landlord of the neighbouring Grange Inn and Shobnall ward representative for Labour on East Staffordshire Borough Council, said the sign had been in place for between 30 and 40 years.
“This shows how bad it’s got,” he said.
“Metal theft is an epidemic and I’m glad police are taking action against it. It’s terrible.” Councillor Ganley said he had informed Staffordshire County Council and been told it would take six weeks to install a replacement sign.
He said metal thefts were discussed at a recent meeting of Shobnall’s police and communities together (PACT) forum.
Crooks had used bolt croppers to cut shed padlocks in Outwoods Street, only for residents to replace the locks before the thieves could return, the councillor said.
He said he had also seen metal thieves in operation.
“I’ve seen a scrap metal van go down the street — people get out into a back garden in Casey Lane and take metal,” he said.
Councillor Ganley said the culprits evaded justice by telling police they had ‘gone to the wrong house’.
“I would want all the residents of Shobnall to keep their gates locked and to be aware there’s a lot of thefts going on,” he said.
“They should also report anything suspicious to police.”
Councillor Ganley spoke on the day South Derbyshire Tory MP Heather Wheeler was due to take part in a House of Commons debate on the Government’s metal theft policy.
The debate was due to be held following Home Secretary Theresa May’s decision to change the law to make it illegal to pay for scrap metal with cash.
Mrs Wheeler was due to say she welcomed the Home Secretary’s approach.
She was also set to ask the Government to ensure it built on police and industry guidelines to ensure only criminals were targeted and not law-abiding businesses.
