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Scrap metal thieves stealing road signs

London: Metal road signs in Essex, south-east England, are to be replaced because thieves driven by the rising price of scrap keep stealing the old ones. Signs made from glass-reinforced polyester are being introduced after a spate of robberies, said the county council.

Norman Hume, Cabinet member for highways and transport, said the council wanted to replace its 70,000 signs with the sturdy, non-degradable material, which has virtually no residual worth. “We are going through times when the value of all commodities, including scrap metal, is particularly high and it’s leading quite literally to highway robbery,” he said.

The problem is not restricted to Essex, or to road signs: metal theft has risen by 150 per cent in the last two years, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers. The U.K.’s highways service is also replacing manhole covers with a hinged model to prevent theft and ensure safety. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2008

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Scrap metal thieves stealing road signs

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