Hundreds of “damaging and costly” thefts of metal has hit businesses and people across Merseyside.
Theft of metal including from railways, statues, church roofs, and cars is believed to cost the UK economy up to £1 billion each year. Last year in Merseyside alone, criminals stole metal on 248 occasions - the equivalent of five thefts each week.
That was a slight fall of 2% from 254 crimes in the year ending March 2021, but 10% higher than during the year before the coronavirus pandemic, when there were 225 offences. Some 18% of thefts of metal last year were targeted against Merseyside’s infrastructure (45 crimes).
