Crackdown on plant theft a success

Reporter: Lyndsey Shorrock, Lancashire Constabulary
Date online: 12 May 2010

Crackdown on plant theft a success

LANCASHIRE Constabulary’s two week crackdown on the theft of plant equipment and machinery is being hailed a success.

Between Saturday 24 April and Sunday 9 May, Lancashire ’s Stolen Vehicle Squad, with the assistance of the Motorway, Road Policing and Ports Units, monitored the movement of plant equipment across the county.

During the two week period:

• 223 vehicles were checked
• 106 items of plant were checked
• £70,000 worth of stolen plant was recovered – this included a tractor, a mini digger and a JCB
• Three people were arrested

Detective Sergeant Simon Ingham, from the Stolen Vehicle Squad, said: “I am really pleased with the results of the operation, but it certainly doesn’t end here. Operation Crassus is a high profile, overt operation targeting the movement of plant but it is not the only tactic available to the police.

“We will continue to target those people who deal in this type of crime and Lancashire Constabulary is committed to making Lancashire a difficult place to move stolen plant.

“During the two week period we recovered around £70,000 worth of stolen plant and this should serve as a warning to criminals that we will target them and we will find them – there is no hiding place.”

The Home Office estimates that plant equipment to the value of £1 million is stolen each week in the UK and records show that only five per cent is ever recovered.

It is anticipated that the 2012 Olympics and other large building projects in the UK will increase the demand for plant machinery and potentially escalate the problem.

DS Ingham added: “Plant theft may seem like a ‘victimless’ crime but it often fuels other serious and organised crime which is why we are determined to target those people involved in this type of criminality.

“As such, we would also ask for the public’s help in combating the problem of plant theft and I would urge people to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to police.

“For example, plant equipment which is being loaded onto trailers and low loaders without an official company name or plant being moved at weekends and evenings from sites where no work is taking place.

“Usually, if something looks suspicious then it probably is and we would ask people to make us aware of these instances.”

Anybody with any information about plant theft should contact police on 08451 25 35 45 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.