Drain cover scrap metal thefts
 

On Friday night, sometime between 11 and 12, I heard the sound of a vehicle engine running outside on the road.
It is normally deathly quiet at nights where I live, so I looked out the window.

There was a white lorry parked with its engine running. I saw a man throw something square onto the back of the lorry - it landed with a very loud thud - then he drove off.

I often see lorries and tractors delivering stuff to the allotments, but not at night.
I only twigged what he was up to 2 hours later when reading the Observer online.

He had stolen a gutter drain cover.
Folk told to watch their step after manhole thefts - News - Accrington Observer

I rang the police at 1.30am to tell them what I had seen.
The lorry was the same sort that had towed away the caravan wreck that had been parked on the road for 4 months ---- 'travelling scum'.

Re: Drain cover scrap metal thefts
 

The Pickies will theive anything, but we have to remembr that they have to sell these things somewhere. There is no regard for anyone but themselves, I just hope that someone doesn't fall down the hole and seriously hurt themselves. I bet that that wasn't the only one to go missing in our area Margaret, but I haven't heard anything this morning

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The same bunch nicked one off our back last week !:eek:

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Seems these days anything is up for grabs............these people nick owt..:mad:

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its all in the weight of the metal isnt it, they are around here every few days asking for scrap metal

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How flippin' disgusting Margaret .. they'll be nicking water out the Hyndburn next !

Good job you didn't realise what they were up to .. can imagine you out there in yer' nightie giving them a piece of your mind ... :hitting8:

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LOL - thanks for that Kate :D

I have been watching the gaping hole in the gutter today.
No car has run over it yet - but it could cause damage to car suspension and wheel if it did.
I am contemplating doing a temporary DIY job on it.
I have some old kitchen cupboard doors in my shed-type storeroom and there is an abandoned traffic cone in the woods at the back.
What is deterring me is the prospect of having to root about in a packed shed and then step gingerly in rough ground avoiding numerous dog terds to get the cone.
(May summon up the energy and courage before nightfall)

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surely since the police have been informed this hole should have been dealt with long ago if only a few cones put around it

if i find my car going down one of these holes lancashire county council will be getting the bill

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I don't expect the LCC to come out to it until Monday at the earliest.
The police did say that they would report it to LCC but they are not likely to get that notification until Monday.

Have decided on a DIY plan B -
I have found some pieces of scrap plywood in my kitchen storeroom (left over from when Hyndburn Homes boxed in my central heating pipes last year). A double layer over the hole should do it.

I have abandoned the idea of tiptoing through the dog turds because, now the grass has grown long I can't see the cone and can't recall precicely where I saw it. If I start wandering in the woods my neighbours will think I have developed dementia.

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Plan B now actioned :D
and my neighbour has volunteered to search the woods for the cone.

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Blimey.

Better learn to keep my gob shut, unless they come and nick my fillings.:D

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Hope your good deed doesn't result in you getting a summons from the council/police for interfering with the free flow of the sewer system :eek:

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Has anything been done about the situation Margaret:confused:

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I noticed a few grates missing nr where they are knocking the houses down nr dale street...etc

next someone will be making a claim for falling down the holes:eek:

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No - the plywood is still there
My neighbour hasn't found the cone, but the plywood isn't a 'trip hazard'

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The drain covers round woodnook go missing on a regular basis but there are a load of pikkies living in th area so they don't have far to go :(

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Good news -- the thieves are, as I write, in the cells at Blackburn.:alright:

Early today they were seen by a neighbour. They had returned to this road to nick 2 more -- same white lorry. They were also seen by a man walking his dog.
The number plate was partly obscured but enough was visible to enable it to be identified.
The police pounced and caught them nicking more grates on Harvey St.
They are under arrest in the cells and, (overheard) a police search is underway at Whinney Hill caravan park

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yeh must live a sheltered life, this was going on in the 60s, also the old lead run off pipes from yer kitchen sink were being ripped off the outside walls, its nowt new mate, increases when the price of scrap metal is high,thats all.:);)

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The thieves have been let off with a police caution..............words fail me

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Come on Margaret did you ever expect anything else, this is Browns Britain 2008 tough on crime tough on the cause of crime, we can't be prosecuting pikies can we, might infringe their UMAN RIGHTS:eek:

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Surprised you stuck for words Margaret ... :D

How can they be let off with a police caution ? Seems strange, they were robbing us all in this Borough !! Have they not been asked to repay for their swag ? They were laying people open to danger due to the removal of these grates !! They'll surely be at it again soon, if not in Hyndburn, other districts !! Usually support the police, but this does seem a little crazy !! :mad:

Sorry, did do a post to your last but one post, but must have only previewed .. not submitted.

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I'm just wondering if enough people made a noise about this, right to the Telegraph and the Obs, or even to the Chief Constable, whether it would make a difference, maybe not, but at least they would know just how we feel and maybe, just maybe, something may be done the next time somethng like this happens.:( Plus you never know Kate may win another meal for her efforts:D

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Well, think the ball is in Margaret's court on this one Jaysay . she has had personal experience of it. Would have to get the facts correct though initially. Still completely bemused by it all though :confused:

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Notice there's quite a few covers missing on the top road just past what used to be the shoulder of mutton pub, they've put cones out there, probably because its a 50mph zone and in darkness.

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My info about the caution came second hand from a person who was told by the workmen replacing the grates - reasonably reliable info?

Some grates are being replaced with a hinged type which are less easily removable.

I am sure that the police were bound by guidelines issued by the Home Office, so criticism of the police would not be in order.

I will restrict my protest to the ballot box.

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They are still at it despite the caution - well - didn't expect a slap on the wrist would work - did you? :rolleyes:
Thieves take cover ... 20 times over - News - Accrington Observer

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Not just us Margaret .. Nationwide. Been lots of stories recently of this type of theft. (will google if you insist LOL). The police are trying to target the scrap yards in the main, as their only source for getting rid of their booty.

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Go on .. just one story:-

Crackdown on scrap metal raids which cost the country £360m a year | Mail Online

Did they really let them off Margaret ? Is unbelievable !!! :mad:

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I got that info from a neighbour who had been told by a council road repair worker.
The additional info was 'because they had no previous convictions'
They 'hadn't been caught redhanded before' is more likely the true picture.

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seems they arent only pinching drain covers, my neighbour came over earlier and asked me if i had noticed anyone going into her garage because someone has stolen about £100 worth of copper out of it

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I saw the "scrap van" pass yesterday with a garage door on it........ might be legit but ya never no

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dya know, they'll pinch owt they really will :(

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They Knocked On My Door The Other Day Asking For Scrap !!
Theyd Bloody Rob Ure Coil If They Cud Lol

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The cover over the drain outside in the ally between the streets went missing the other day.:rolleyes:
I noticed it when we had a skip delivered
I reported it to the council via e-mail and the next day there was a new cover all cemented down.
i know we seam to knock the council a bit on here but i must say there response was very good in this case.:)

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The cover that went missing near me started this thread, took a lot longer that that to fix.
One week before anything was done - a temporary replacement - then they returned a week later, dug it up and redid it.

Perhaps the replacement methods have improved - had plenty of practice haven't they? :rolleyes:

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Yay Margaret and still no one has been done for it, looks like they're still slapping wrists:(

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tel no for lcc highways in hyndburn is 01254 770972 is name is colin bowman hope this ok for you

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The drain cover thefts have started again.
In Clayton this time
Spate of manhole cover thefts in Clayton-le-Moors (From Lancashire Telegraph)

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What with this type of theft plus the taking of metals from the railways, which puts lives at risk, where is it all going to stop. Its time that those responsible, if and when caught, should pay heavily, instead just getting slapped wrists and a pat on the head