SCRAP metal thieves have been blamed for a raid on a recycling centre on the edge of Alnwick at the weekend, in which 40 used car batteries were stolen.
The soaring cost of metals is believed to have sparked a rush by criminal gangs to get their hands on everything from copper and lead to household power cable.
Copper currently fetches £4,000 a tonne, while the same weight in lead or stainless ste
el is priced at around £1,000. Cable, meanwhile, can be sold on for £1,600 per tonne.
The batteries – which contain copper wire – were taken from the SITA unit on Lionheart Enterprise Park between 6.15pm on Friday and 7.45am on Saturday.
Police believe it would have taken several people a considerable amount of time to haul the batteries over the security fence and into a waiting vehicle big enough to carry such a load.
But Inspector Sue Peart said the theft had more widespread implications.
"The batteries themselves are full of corrosive acid, so there is a concern over where they would have been dumped after the wire was stripped from them," she said.
"This kind of theft has become a trend which is pushing northwards from Tyneside into our area, and we need people to be vigilant."
She added: "The price of scrap metal has rocketed, which means that for a few unscrupulous individuals, it's a quick way of making money.
"We are all familiar with previous incidents in which churches and houses have been targeted for the lead from their roofs, and even cases where householders have found their gates and railings gone."
Northumbria Police regularly visits scrap yards and smart-water technology is available to paint valuable metal fittings, including roof lead, which can help detect if it has been stolen.
Anyone with information on scrap thefts, including the SITA raid, is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 03456 043043 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
