Metal thefts fall across Cleveland area despite nationwide rise

The Local Government Association said a rise in metal theft across England and Wales – caused in part by an increase in metal prices – is "extremely damaging and costly" for businesses and people affected.

Office for National Statistics data shows Cleveland Police recorded 122 metal theft offences in 2020-21 – although this was down significantly from 300 the year before.

Of the thefts last year, 52 were infrastructure-related, which includes the stripping of metal such as roofing lead from buildings, taking electricity or railway cables or stealing vehicle parts.

The remaining 70 were non-infrastructure related, which could involve stealing scrap metal or war memorial plaques.

Across England and Wales, 19,000 metal theft offences were recorded last year – up from 17,400 the year before, and the highest number since 2014-15.

Of these, 57% were related to infrastructure – the highest proportion on record.

In Cleveland, there were 2.1 metal theft offences per 10,000 people last year – down from 5.3 per 10,000 people the year before.

This was lower than the average across the North East of 2.7 per 10,000 people.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We funded the set-up of the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership, which ensures national co-ordination of policing and law enforcement partners to tackle metal theft, including vehicle and agricultural-related theft.

“The partnership has provided training to law enforcement and other partner agencies, shares intelligence to target offenders, and implements crime prevention measures.”

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