Six arrested in North Yorkshire metal theft crackdown

The two-day operation was carried out by North Yorkshire Police, who patrolled major roads and visited local scrap dealers.

More than 50 police officers were involved in the highvisibility clampdown, which happened on Monday and yesterday.

Police were stationed around the county, from Scotch Corner to Whitby.

Inspector Robert Thorpe, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "We also had local and rural police teams patrolling Whitby, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Harrogate.

Inspector Robert Thorpe, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Plain clothed officers visited 14 local scrap dealers in the area to make sure they were getting identification from people selling scrap.”

The Environment Agency and HM Revenue and Customs worked with police to ensure vehicles carrying scrap were licensed to carry waste and that no illegal fuel was being used.

Insp Thorpe added: “We have also been stopping and testing vehicles for red diesel.

“HM Revenue and Customs can test to see whether vehicles other than permitted farm vehicles have been using it, and on Monday we arrested one driver for using the lowtax fuel illegally.”

The exercise was part of Operation Tornado, an ongoing operation to control the sale and movement of metal in the region.

The operation this week was part of The European Network of Railway Police Force’s National Days of Action – as police all over Europe and the UK clamped down on metal crime.

Traffic Constable Don Wright said: “We have recently seen an increase of thefts of catalytic converters from cars.

“They have a high content of precious metals so people can get a lot of money for them.”

Six people were arrested during the operation, including two teenagers from the Stokesley area held on suspicion of theft.

Two men from Darlington, aged 26 and 37, were arrested on the A1 near Dishforth on suspicion of handling suspected stolen cable, and two men from Peterborough, both aged 30, were arrested on suspicion of theft and driving while disqualified.