*PRESS RELEASE* - METAL THEFT DOWN 30 PER CENT IN STOCKTON
Thefts of metal in the Stockton district have dropped by 30 per cent since Operation Graphite was rolled out force-wide by Cleveland Police after a successful pilot in Stockton. In the six months leading up to the launch of Operation Graphite there were 469 reports of metal theft in the Stockton District, giving a clear indication of the extent of the problem. Thefts have now dropped by over 100 hundred incidents in the six months following the roll out.
Operation Graphite was stepped up in April 2008 when SmartWater was introduced and applied to a range of high risk targets across the private and public sectors, including drain covers, gates, school building, church roofs and building materials used on construction sites.
Any item marked with SmartWater is assigned with an irremovable DNA-style forensic signature which is only visible under UV light and can irrefutably link an item with its owner and a criminal with the crime scene.
Cleveland Police partnered with the local council, scrap metal merchants, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), and SmartWater’s Crime Support Unit, which assisted with on-site searches for SmartWater at scrap metal dealers.
Cleveland Police backed up this action by stating that any metal handed in to scrap yards on Teesside would be placed under a UV light to look for SmartWater. If detected on either the metal or the person trading it in, they would be questioned and faced potential arrest for metal theft or handling stolen goods. This action is ongoing and continues to have a powerful impact.
Inspector Steve Young of Stockton’s Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Before launching Operation Graphite there had been a steady increase in the number of thefts of metal from houses, churches and other buildings.
“While we still have some way to go, it is evident that Operation Graphite has been instrumental in cutting the number of thefts in the district. However, we are not complacent, and we continue to be tough in our efforts to clamp down on metal thefts.
“This is a warning to thieves not to bother stealing drain covers or lead flashings as they are covered in SmartWater and no scrap yards will accept them. If you do attempt to take stolen goods to scrap metal merchants, there will be officers there waiting to arrest you.
“Scrap yards are not only turning away those who turn up on foot to scrap in metal, but those who are suspected of handling stolen goods face seizure of their vehicles.”
Superintendent Martin Campbell from Cleveland Police, who leads a force-wide team focusing on this crime said: “Cleveland Police has been extremely successful in driving this type of crime down in the force area. Theft of metals is one area where global economics are having a disproportionate influence on our fight against crime. Partnership working with the metal recycling industry is a proven way of deterring this type of criminal activity.”
Phil Cleary, Chief Executive of SmartWater Technology Ltd, said: “We will continue to assist Cleveland Police with this operation, along with many other Forces across the UK, to combat the nationwide problem of metal thefts.”
For more information please contact Dave Reynolds, PR Executive, SmartWater Technology Ltd on 0870 242 8899, or email: davereynolds@smartwater.com