Lead testing to stop metal thefts

Buy photos » Dan O’Gorman from Arrow Metals, Coun Rebecca Blake and Community Support Officer Lucy Diment test a piece of metal flashing. (s)

SCRAP dealers in the borough are set to test for high-tech invisible markings in a bid to stop metal thieves.

The scheme, run by Redditch Borough Council and West Mercia Police, will see testing equipment given to businesses to enable them to check for 'red lead' - marked metals stolen from residential or public buildings which will glow a distinctive bright red colour when tested.

If thieves attempt to remove any of the metals it will contaminate their clothes, vehicles and homes of meaning if they are scanned for forensic markings they can be linked to a particular location or crime.

Dan O'Gorman, from Arrow Metals one of the first to have the equipment, said: "We are delighted to be on board with this marking scheme because it benefits our real customers, help protect our business and improves public safety too. We are actively looking out for marked metals."

Coun Rebecca Blake, responsible for community safety on the borough council, said: "Redditch Borough Council is determined to protect our buildings from metal thieves. These crimes are costly and have affected homes and public buildings across the borough."

District Inspector Ian Joseph from West Mercia Police added the scheme was a further example of positive work done with registered dealers to make it less likely thieves would try and unload stolen metal there in the future.

"If you remove the market for stolen metal then there’s no point in stealing it in the first place," he said.

Anyone with any information about metal thefts should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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