Scrap Metal Thefts

A total of 25 people were arrested by Thames Valley Police on Tuesday morning, 29 May, after six warrants were executed as part of a crackdown on scrap metal thefts across the Thames Valley region. The operation, one of the largest ever conducted by Thames Valley Police, involved more than 400 officers carrying out warrants at six scrap metal merchants across Thames Valley, Hertfordshire and Middlesex. Ten residential addresses connected to these businesses were also involved. Searches are still ongoing and will be for several days.

Property seized so far includes:

•Network Rail track
•15 tons of suspected stolen Scottish Southern electricity cable
•Suspected stolen cast iron drain covers
•A war memorial plaque
•Four Suspected Stolen JCB/digger buckets
•BT cable
•Suspected unlicensed firearms and prohibited weapons
•Suspected class A drugs
•Over £400,000 cash

Det Insp Rodger Cartwright, investigating officer in the operation, said: “Metal theft is one of the fastest growing crimes nationally. Some scrap metal dealers are not as scrupulous as they should be at checking where the items brought to their yard come from. By working with all metal dealers and other agencies, we hope to reduce the opportunities for metal thieves to trade with registered dealers.”

Fuel Thefts

Local businesses and country watch members are being warned to be extra vigilant following a spate of fuel thefts in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse area. Over the last few weeks diesel has been stolen from commercial vehicles in Kingston Bagpuize, Letcombe Bassett, and Appleford.

We have also received reports of the theft of fuel from business premises and farms. Recent thefts have occurred in Park Road, Faringdon, Tubney, Stanford in the Vale and Radley.

Businesses may wish to consider keeping fuel levels low on vehicles if that is operationally possible. There are also products available to deter diesel theft such as diesel dye, for further details please visit: www.dieseldye.com

Ford Transit V569EEL

At around 4.15 p.m. on Wednesday 9 May, two men were disturbed whilst attempting to steal scrap metal from farm premises at Nettlebed. They were in a white Ford Transit panel van, V569 EEL and they drove off towards Highmoor. 

 Police Close Rave

Police made five arrests after a rave was closed down near Wantage at about 6:30 a.m. on Sunday 6 May. The event took place at the Ridgeway, near White Horse Hill. When the police arrived, more than 100 people were on the site along with dozens of vehicles and several large sound systems. In addition to the arrests, audio equipment and two vehicles were seized. A police spokesman said: “The message to organizers is clear - they are not welcome in the Thames Valley and if they come to the area with the purpose of setting up a rave they are likely to be arrested and have their vehicles and equipment seized."