Number’s up for Blackburn metal criminals (From Blackburn Citizen)

Number’s up for Blackburn metal criminals

11:01am Friday 25th July 2008

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SUSPECTED metal thieves were targeted in an after-noon ‘flash’ crackdown on crime.

Officers set up automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) equipment close to scrap yards in Blackburn to monitor vehicles bringing in copper or lead to sell.

The move was part of Operation Titan, which sees targeted areas flooded with police to disrupt serious criminality and tackles violent crime, anti-social behav-iour, vehicle crime and criminal damage.

It involves officers who would otherwise be tied up with paper-work in different parts of the county to get back on the streets to focus on areas undergoing specific problems.

Sgt Abid Khan, Blackburn Police, said: “We have seen an increase in metal thefts recently. The price of copper and lead has gone through the roof – so criminals are literally ripping up roofs to steal material and sell it on.

“The ANPR has been used to check vehicles going into scrap yards. We have also been speaking to scrap yard dealers and telling them to check who they are buying from so they are not encou-raging criminals.”

One person was arrested in connection with the metal thefts probe. As part of the after-noon’s activities a man suspected of possessing heroin was arrested after a drugs warrant was executed on a home in Laburnum Road.

Officers from the support unit kicked down a solid door, before police sniffer dogs entered the semi-detached home.

A search was made of the house and a shed in the rear garden.

Other areas that have recently benefited from Operation Titan include the Bank Top area of Blackburn and the Suddelside area of Darwen.

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