A week long police crackdown on scrap metal theft in Wales has now been able to restrict a crime that is reportedly costing the economy of the United Kingdom £770m per year.

Welsh police were able to raid dealerships and arrested suspected perpetrators yesterday across the south of Wales.

It is no secret that these incidents are not uncommon; the high demand for scrap metal over recent years has resulted in a massive increase in metal thefts, with thieves targeting hospitals, railways, factories and war memorials, as well as private residences.

Some say that gangs who regularly seal and sell scrap metal have the ability to make millions of pounds through the illegal trading.

The reason these crimes are so common is that they are able to happen in full view of the public at any time of day.

The reason for this is that passers-by will see what appear to be men in hard hats and workmen’s clothing carrying large metal items, and automatically assume that these men have permission.

However, police are now urging pedestrians to stop and question what they see, as the ever-increasing illegal activity is fasting becoming something of an epidemic.