Scrap plan to cut crime

A tradesman has devised a scheme to try to deter thieves from stealing metal from households.

Mr Paul Smith (40) of Bingham, suggests he, or someone else, could apply for a licence to collect scrap metal from people by appointment.

He came up with the idea because thieves have targeted him twice.

About £50-worth of metal was stolen from a trailer in his garden last week.

Mr Smith said: “According to someone who saw them, they were in my garden for some time. They were going backwards and forwards.”

He said it was not only the value of scrap stolen that angered him, but the fact the thieves had just walked on to his property.

Mr Smith said he had seen vans driving around Bingham looking for scrap.

He said: “ There must be six going round here every single day.”

He said if anyone did apply for a licence, they would have to use their own vehicle and incur costs so should expect to keep the money made from the sale of scrap.

Mr Smith intends to present his idea to Bingham Town Council on Tuesday.

His neighbour, Mr Peter Hodgkinson (64) said he would support it. He had aluminium worth £80 stolen from his garden at the same time as Mr Smith’s theft.

He said: “If they knew somebody was taking it every week there would be no point in coming here. We want the message that it is not worth coming to Bingham.”

He said: “There are a lot of people who drive around in Bingham looking for scrap. So many people think this is easy money.”

Sergeant Phil Hallam, of Bingham Police, said they were investigating the thefts and urged residents to report incidents.

He said: “The price of metals is going up and opportunity thieves will steal things that are not secure. Lock anything of value away.”

Sergeant Hallam said the theft of scrap metal was a nationwide problem, not just in Bingham.

He said Mr Smith should contact Rushcliffe Borough Council about applying for a licence to collect scrap metal if he wanted to take up the scheme.

e.pietras@newarkadvertiser.co.uk