METAL thefts in the county have rocketed to £1million in the first six months of the year.

Police now fear that organised crime gangs could latch on to the ‘lucrative’ trend as their next source of major income.

And officers are gathering intelligence on scrapyards that help process the stolen metal, as well as gangs who bypass dealers with drop-off points for it to be ferried abroad.

Senior officers believe East Lancashire is a particular hotspot because of the large number of empty properties, mills and industrial units.

Supt Jon Puttock said: “I’ve no doubt because of the lucrative nature of scrap metal due to the economic position, it will be attractive for organised criminality. The money involved makes it a potential area of business.

“Part of the day of action is about gathering intelligence on those scrapdealers who turn a blind eye to this, as well as any information traders have on those stealing or handling proceeds from theft.

“We want to impact on the potential for this to become profitable for gangs by focusing on a local level and disrupting offenders.”

Across the county, there has been a huge 87 per cent rise in scrap metal thefts, with 3,547 between January 1 and September 30 this year. A quarter of those (864) were committed in Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, and just under a fifth (743) in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

The theft of lead flashing, copper boilers, piping and cables from train lines has cost businesses and individuals £7million in five years, with police insisting it is not a ‘victimless crime’.

Supt Puttock said the force continue to balance priorities, but that today’s Operation Starling, involving road-side spot checks and scrapyard visits, was raising awareness of ongoing tactics.

He added: “The theft of metal costs individuals and businesses thousands of pounds each year.

“Historically thieves will only get a fraction of the value of the metal they take whilst it is the few recyclers prepared to ignore the law who reap the benefits when they sell the metal on.

“Cable thieves do not make huge amounts of money from the metal they are able to steal. In fact, when you consider the risks thieves take, it simply isn’t worth the effort.”

Church Warden Frank Whitehead, who is facing a £12,000 bill for roof repairs at St John’s Church, Accrington, after nine thefts in three months, said: “It’s a major issue. We will do all we can to raise the money whilst continuing to run the church on limited funds but it is a very serious situation.”