SEVEN men were arrested during a day of action in York to stamp out metal theft.

North Yorkshire Police launched six simultaneous raids yesterday involving more than 30 officers in Acomb and surrounding areas yesterday, with the aim of catching criminals responsible for stealing lead and copper.

In the raids, called Operation Asterix, police also seized a haul of weapons and drugs, along with suspected stolen metal, which has become a common target for thieves as prices soar.

The Press joined a police team on one of the raids in Mowbray Avenue, when officers storm a house just after 9am. Three men were arrested.

A huge haul of cable with the copper wire stripped out was also discovered dumped in the Fishponds Wood area of Acomb.

Sergeant Jo Wragg, who led the operation, said: “The global cost of metal has risen strongly and, in conjunction with the increased demand, there has been a sharp increase in reported thefts of metal, predominantly copper and lead.”

She said the spate of metal crime had seen railways targeted, causing delays for passengers, and had also led to thieves striking at the homes of elderly and vulnerable people in York.

In one recent crime in Acomb, a woman in her 80s looked out of her bedroom window in the early hours of the morning and come face-to-face with a man trying to rip lead from the ground floor of her home. It was the third theft at her property in four weeks.

Sgt Wragg said metal thieves caused a power cut in December last year when, in freezing temperatures, almost 50 homes in the village of Great Heck were left without electricity with some homes affected for up to 17 hours.

“These crimes are affecting our community on many levels and the thieves are causing disruption and anxiety on a massive scale,” said Sgt Wragg. “The primary aim of the operation is to disrupt their activities and, where possible, arrest, charge and place them before the courts.

“North Yorkshire and the City of York continue to be amongst the safest and lowest level crime areas of the county and North Yorkshire are committed to ensuring this remains the case.”

Four seized as racecourse railings are targeted

FOUR more arrests for metal theft were made after police were tipped off about a group of men cutting up metal railings at York Racecourse.

The incident was reported to officers on Monday evening. The gang was spotted loading the metal railings into a van on Cherry Lane, near the Holiday Inn.

Three of the men were arrested after being chased by officers and a fourth was found hiding among the stolen metal in the back of the van.

A group of suspects, who are all local and aged 18, 20, 23 and 34, have been released on police bail as inquiries continue.

Chief Inspector Dave Hannan, of York Safer Neighbourhood Command, said:”Metal theft is an issue we are taking seriously across the city of York and North Yorkshire as a whole.

“It is very pleasing that the public are also taking this issue seriously and are reporting incidents to us.

“I urge people to keep letting us know about any suspicious or criminal activity they see.”

North Yorkshire Police can be phoned on 0845 6060247.