Spate of metal thefts in Redditch

Officers are looking at possible links between 15 offences in the town, committed between August 18 and September 5, and are also investigating other thefts and break-ins across the rest of the district.

Business and factory units at the Moons Moat North and Washford industrial estates were among those targeted.

Pallets of brass blocks and brass sheets worth an estimated £13,000 were stolen after thieves broke into a firm on the Moons Moat North industrial estate recently.

The same firm had a further £3,000 of metal products stolen in another raid last week while they were in the process of beefing up their security.

A spokesperson for the company, who did not want to be named, said: "The damage, expense and aggravation this has caused is horrendous.

“It has caused us severe disruption and in the light of the current economic climate we could well do without it."

A number of other factories in Palmers Road and Oxleasow Road, including Rescroft, were also raided.

Metal and other property had been stacked up ready for removal by thieves at other units but they left empty handed when they were disturbed.

Jason Kimberley, from passenger vehicle seating company Rescroft, described the offenders as "brazen".

He said: "They broke into an outside building in the yard and left the door ajar with metal and other equipment inside.

“Our outside gate had also been taken off its hinges. Other units near here had also had material stacked up ready to take and it looks like they were going to come back probably after dark with a truck or lorry to remove it.”

Redditch District Inspector Ian Joseph said: "We are already targeting our patrols in those areas where offences have taken place but those involved are very persistent.

“The current high price of metals means that local and travelling criminals can often achieve useful sums of money by selling stolen property to less reputable dealers."

He added: “We understand the impact of these crimes on firms and would like to assure local business owners that we will do all we can to both prevent and detect these offences.”