Metal thefts down thanks to SmartWater

The Tipton neighbourhood team has signed up to the SmartWater scheme, where items can be marked with a postcode that will only show up under ultraviolet light.

Tipton town lead member Councillor Joanne Hadley said they had teamed up with local police on the scheme.

She said: "This is a real kick-in-the-teeth to would-be metal thieves.

"They will not know that any metal items have been marked and when they try to sell them on the metal dealer will be able to check to see where it has come from and will know instantly if the item had been stolen."

Councillor Hadley said she was delighted that metal thefts had come down 60 per cent in recent months as word has got around the area.

"I have made £450 available to the local police to buy the SmartWater and would-be metal thieves should be warned that they are on dodgy ground if they try to steal in the Tipton area."

Sgt Dave Rogers, from Tipton Police, said: "Scrap metal dealers have signed up to the SmartWater scheme and they can tell instantly where any scrap metal has come from.

"More importantly, they will have details of the person that has tried to sell the scrap metal.

"It is a great scheme and we are pleased to have teamed up with Sandwell Council to cut down on these sort of thefts that blight people's lives."

To report crime, call the 24-hour police 101 non-emergency number. Always call 999 in an emergency.