Thieves use wheelie bin to carry off metal haul

Apr 15 2011 by Bryan Brough, Paisley Daily Express

POLICE were yesterday on the trail of a cheeky gang of thieves who have been using WHEELIE BINS to cart off thousands of pounds worth of stolen metal.

The brass-necked crooks have nicked metal drain covers from pavements as they prowl the streets of Paisley in the early hours of the morning.

And a number of homeowners have woken up to discover that lead has been stolen from their roofs.

The surge in this type of crime is being fuelled by rising metal prices and police have urged people across Renfrewshire to be vigilant.

Paisley pensioner Ann Glen, who lives in the South End of town, has told how her neighbours have fallen victim to the gang of thieves.

She said: “There have been a number of thefts in this area and the problem is getting worse.

“My neighbours were targeted while they were asleep in their bed.

“The thieves are stealing any kind of metal they can sell on for cash.

“As well as taking lead flashing from houses, they have been lifting drain covers and nicking them too.

“One of my friends has told me that she saw a couple of men pushing a wheelie bin along a side street in the South End at 4am one morning.

“They were throwing drain covers into the bin and then wheeling their loot away with them.

“These crooks don’t care what damage they cause. All they’re interested in is making a fast buck.”

The Paisley Daily Express can reveal that a “small fortune” in metal – including lead, silver and copper – has been nicked across Renfrewshire in recent months and much of it ends up being sold on the black market for a fraction of its true value.

Thieves have targeted churches, factories and building sites, as well as a number of homes.

The Paisley Museum and Art Galleries building, in High Street, Paisley, also had lead stripped from its roof.

And, just last week, a reel of copper cable worth about £300 disappeared overnight from the former Hawkhead Hospital site in Hawkhead Road, Paisley.

Police have already taken action by visiting all scrap dealers in the Paisley area to advise them about the problem.

Anyone who has information about metal thefts, or who sees someone acting suspiciously, is urged to ring their local police station or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.