Stealing metal in broad daylight

A frustrated resident took this picture to highlight the brazen and cavalier thefts that are costing the taxpayer thousands and spoiling the built environment.

A spokeswoman for residents said: "It is a long established problem around Britannia Village. But we didn't think the thieves would carry out their work in daylight. The number of Asda trolleys in the truck is shocking too. I guess the recession is having a different effect on each of us.

"The pictures have been forwarded to the police via their website and also to their Safer Neighbourhood Team a few weeks ago but I've heard nothing and there has been no follow-up.

"They were definitely not legitimate as the council is aware that tree grilles are being stolen on a regular basis. It costs them thousands of pounds and now they are saying they have no more funds to replace them."

The Britannia Village residents said they have grown increasingly disheartened as the police and the council have failed to address their concerns or replace the missing grilles.

A Newham Police spokesman said: "Officers have been responding to a recent rise in people stealing metal and selling it on for profit in Britannia Village.

"Police have been property marking valuable metal, including metal tree surrounds. This helps officers identify where the metal came from and further assist as evidence when it comes to bringing those responsible for stealing the metal to justice.

"Officers have attended the main local supermarkets and obtained statements detailing that the companies have their own collection, repair and disposal measures in place for their trolleys."

Royal Docks Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) officers have also been stopping scrap vehicles when they visit scrapyards to confirm their loads are legitimate.

"The Royal Docks SNT has recently arrested three occupants from scrap vehicles for suspicion of theft of theft of metal, although these offences were not connected to the theft of metal grilles in Britannia Village."

Acting Safer Neighbourhoods Sgt Barry Richardson said: "There is an active Business Watch on the Royal Docks ward and an active neighbourhood watch in Britannia Village.

"Both take care to protect their staff, property and trade, challenging or reporting to the police any questionable behaviour."

A Newham Council spokesman said: "The council is aware of the rise in metal theft. In Newham, the loss of council property costs thousands of pounds a year to replace and we are working with police to bring those responsible to account.

"We are responding to cases where thieves have taken gulley gratings by replacing them with lockable versions to prevent unauthorised removal. We are also looking at alternative ways of protecting trees following a number of incidents relating to metal grilles, particularly in the south of the borough."

"We will never apologise for being tough on those who make the lives of the hard working majority a misery."

British Transport Police (BTP) in conjunction with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) launched a task force in 2007 to tackle the growing issue of metal theft across the country.

Glyn Hellam, of BTP, said: "Metal theft is driven by prices on the world market. Demand for metal in China and other up-and-coming industrial nations is indirectly driving metal prices up in this country.

"BTP and ACPO have led a metal theft working group looking to work with scrap dealers to encourage them to keep proper books and records."

A spokesman for Asda said: "As trolleys cost hundreds of pounds each we go to every length to make sure they aren't stolen. We have lots of measures in place to combat trolley theft including cart-tronics, a state of the art system which uses radio waves to mark a boundary around the store where trolleys can freely circulate."

Sgt Richardson added: "If anyone has any information around this type of illegal activity I urge you to contact the Royal Docks SNT on 020 72755903."