Police were targeting scrap metal thieves in an operation across Stockport today.

Operation Alloy saw four teams of officers along with trading standards and environmental officers visiting scrap yards to check for potentially stolen items.

Officers also carried out spot searches on vans on main roads in the area.

So far a 40-year-old Romania man has been arrested on suspicion of theft from a property in Longsight and police believe they will seize several vehicles by the end of the day.

Sergeant Carl Needham, who was controlling operations form the police hub, said: “It's difficult to judge how things are going at the moment but it seems to be going well and we've made an arrest which is a result.

“Operation Alloy is something that will continue to the end of the year, if not longer and names and details gathered today will be subject to further enquiries by ourselves and trading standards.”

Trading standards and environmental officers were checking vehicles had the correct licenses for waste transfer and could give on the spot fines of up to £300 for incorrect documentation.

Among the places visited was Rentons Scrap Metal Ltd

The premises were checked and officers carried out spot checks on vehicles dropping off materials.

They were particularly searching for stolen phone cabling and grids.

PC Gary Wood said: “We went in with Trading Standards and the Council and basically looked at the books.

“We found some grids and cabling but we're satisfied as to where they've come from.”

Also visited was A2Z Scrap Metal.

No arrests were made at the scrap yards.

Tweet