Thieves steal £300k of metal from factory

Masked thieves brought their own forklift truck to help them steal more than £300,000 of metal from a factory in Staffordshire.

A gang of ten targeted Blancomet Recycling UK Ltd in Stone at about 21:00 GMT on 18 January, according to the company, and broke through security gates before loading vans with stolen copper granules and metal drill bits.

Nerijus Gecas, director of the firm, said the theft would cause significant financial harm.

Staffordshire Police said it was investigating and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Gecas said the theft was a "highly planned operation".

"They came prepared with equipment, with HGVs, with a forklift, so they definitely were planning this," he stated.

"All that material it was about to be shipped to the refiner so it will definitely affect our cash flow and our profitability."

He said other firms should be vigilant against theft

"Keep your eyes open and ears open," he said.

"Maybe review their own security measures because even when you think you have good ones, the reality shows that they were not good enough," he said.

Staffordshire Police said: "Officers have reviewed CCTV footage and are now appealing for information, or relevant dashcam or doorbell footage."

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