Gang ofthree cost […]; Heavy metal targeted in firms across the North East

Byline: SOPHIE DOUGHTY

* WRECKED: A wall was blown out by the gas explosion at Hepworth Lane, Mirfield. Below, a road is cordoned off on Sunday (JH280311Gmirfield-03)"It's likely in some cases they will also have a vehicle to transport the metal, so any suspicious vehicles should also be reported to officers."And at a business on Newburn Bridge Road, in Blaydon, Gateshead, reels of cable worth pounds 15,000 were stolen, while a raid of expensive tools and machinery worth in excess of pounds 100,000 were stolen during a raid in Lemington, Newcastle.The Mirfield incident comes a few days after a man was hospitalised while trying to steal electrical cabling from a disused power station in Leeds.Police in Byker and Walker staged an operation which resulted in six people being arrested for theft and handling stolen goods.They had both been charged with an offence of theft.Kirklees police later discovered the blast was caused by a gas leak after thieves stole copper piping that attached a gas meter to the boiler of the house.On one occasion a vacant business premises in Gateshead was left with damage totalling almost pounds 125,000 when copper piping was removed from the roof.The explosion just before 6am on Saturday blew out the roof and wall of a lean-to at a home on Hepworth Lane, Mirfield, scattering rubble into the street."Whoever has taken this copper piping has clearly neglected to think of not only their own safety, but also that of innocent people in the area.She said: "We capped off the gas supply as quickly as possible to make the area completely safe."This is quite rare however as most people are aware of just how dangerous it is to wilfully damage a gas pipe."Graham was jailed for six years, Karl Scott for five years, and Christopher Dunn was sentenced to three years, all for conspiracy to steal after previously pleading guilty to the offence."I'm pleased with the sentences passed, which ensures the main offenders are off the streets and not committing further crimes."Tampering with gas pipes and equipment poses a real danger and the sad thing is the small amount of copper removed won't be worth much at all.The offenders or their vehicles could be placed at scenes of crimes, while stolen property was recovered from their homes during house searches.During the course of the investigation a large amount of stolen property was recovered, including power tools, alloy wheels and trailers.But it was only after police launched a specialist operation they were able to link them to the raids and prove they were working together as part of a gang.Gemma Taylor, 24, of Johnson Street, Lemington, was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months and must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.Detectives are now appealing for information from people who may have seen scrap metal collectors in the area.Colin Graham, 37, of no fixed address; Karl Scott, 23, of Kielder Road, Lemington, Newcastle, and Christopher Dunn, 22, of Leam Lane Estate in Gateshead, had all been arrested on numerous occasions."This brings to fruition a protracted investigation and has resulted in dozens of crimes being detected across the Northumbria Police force area, as well as property being recovered.Anyone with any information about the Mirfield incident can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

have been locked up after admitting conspiracy to steal