11:39am Monday 6th September 2010
By David Watkinson
ALMOST half of all scrap metal thefts from empty homes in Hyndburn happened within 160 meters of a single street, new figures show.
Graham Jones, Hyndburn MP, said the issue was such a problem than more needed to be done to raise awareness of the issue.
Figures obtained by Mr Jones show that of 32 burglaries between July last year and June this year targeting empty homes with the intention of stripping it of scrap metal, 41 per cent happened near Nuttall Street.
The street, in the Woodnook area of Accrington, has been dogged by rogue landlords and empty properties and problems in the area led to Hyndburn Council introducing a new landlord licensing scheme, which will come in to place next month.
Mr Jones said: “I have recently researched a particular crime, burglary of empty properties. Hyndburn borough has some 2,200 empty residential properties plus an unknown, but high number of empty commercial properties.
“These empty properties are a problem and are adding to the burden of the police in dealing with sometimes boarded up and abandoned houses.
“People need to be aware, especially in Woodnook that these professional thieves are ripping out all the pipe and metal work in these properties at great cost repair.
“They are targeting houses under renovation knowing the value of the metal work will be available to steal.
“The thieves have been removing copper pipes/radiators/boilers/water tanks and in some cases a bathroom suite and a gas cooker and extremely dangerously, a gas meter for scrap value."
Mr Jones said he wanted to work with police on the matter, adding: "I want to highlight these problems to draw attention to the problems of Woodnook and empty homes, and to widen awareness to this sort of crime which appears to be on the increase.”
Lancashire police has led two summer crackdowns on burglaries.
Sergeant Simon Holderness said: “Burglary is low in Lancashire but we advise residents to make sure their homes are locked and secure at all times.”
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