Metal thefts crack down

Published 4 Dec 2012 11:30

A JOINT operation to crack down on metal thefts in the Alloa area by Central Scotland Police and partner agencies has uncovered a variety of criminal activity, including drug offences, motoring offences and criminals evading arrest.

Officers and partner agencies including the Vehicle Operators and Services Agency (VOSA), HMRC Fuel Unit and British Telecom Metal Theft Team undertook a road check at Kelliebank Industrial Estate, Alloa and the surrounding area.

Chief Inspector Brian Johnston, Head of Road Policing for Central Scotland Police, said, "We carried out a road check in the Alloa area last Wednesday (November 28), targeting criminals using the roads, as we know they travel around industrial areas to steal or dispose of stolen metal.

"The aim of the road check was to detect offences, catch criminals and provide public reassurance. We stopped and checked more than 70 vehicles and two vehicles were seized for having no insurance, while a 31-year-old male was arrested on a Justice of the Peace warrant. Two men, aged 21 and 28, were charged with possession of cannabis resin."

The owners of eight vehicles had them taken off the road immediately, and another 14 were given time to rectify mechanical prohibitions identified by VOSA, for various offences including a handbrake not working, badly worn tyres and steering faults.

In addition, 50 vehicles had their diesel fuel tanks checked by HMRC to ensure they were not using tax-rebated fuel supplied for agricultural purposes, and two fixed penalties which were issued to drivers for using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt.

Finally, a 31-year-old man was charged with driving with a revoked license and using a mobile phone.

The license had been revoked as he had failed to return it to the DVLA to have points added.

Chief Inspector Johnston added, "We are determined to continue cracking down on those who use our roads as part of their criminal activities and this exercise shows just how effective it was. We are sending a message to the criminal fraternity that we will continue to target them, and indeed we will be repeating this exercise somewhere in Clackmannanshire sometime in the next month."

Anyone with information can contact Central Scotland Police on 01786 456000 or information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 04 Dec 12

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