Essex: Metal theft day of action brings results

September 25, 2012, 11:27 am

A day of action cracking down on metal theft in Basildon resulted in five arrests.

Police carried out day of action under Operation Tornado on Friday, September 21, 2012 alongside officers from Basildon Councils waste management team, Trading Standards and British Transport police.

Officers carried out 62 stop checks on vehicles close to three scrap yards in the area of Wrexham Road and Archers Field Close between 8.45am and 3pm.

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Five arrests were made under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

• A 27-year-old man from Basildon was cautioned for giving false personal name or address details
• A 25-year-old man from Downham, near Billericay, was charged with three counts of giving false details. He was bailed until October 11, 2012
• A 21-year-old man from South Ockendon was charged with two counts of giving false details. He was bailed until October 11, 2012.
• A 24-year-old man from Basildon was given a caution for providing false details.
• A 45-year-old man from Gravesend in Kent was charged with taking a motor vehicle without consent, theft of a shopping trolley and possession of cannabis. He has been bailed until November 14, 2012.

Drivers of three vehicles were suspected of not having a waste carriers licence. Two of these were required to buy one or face a fine of £300.

Police also checked the book keeping records at the scrap yards. As a result eight warning letters have been issued to people giving false or incorrect details when dealing in metals.