Police lead away a suspect

SIX men arrested in an operation targeting scrap metal theft were being questioned by police this afternoon (Wednesday).

Police officers conduct a search on the property

The men were arrested in early morning raids across towns in North Herts today.

It follows six months of gathering intelligence, with officers going undercover to buy suspected stolen scrap metal.

DCI Liz Hanlon, senior investigating officer, told the Comet reporter at the scene: “It won’t just be targeting scrap yards, we will use every resource we have got in North Herts to tackle this crime, because it does have such a knock-on effect.

“Some think it is a petty crime, but so many are affected.

A policeman searches the garage where the suspect was found

“People can’t use their telephone or broadband, and passengers on trains get delayed.

“For a foot of cable, you’d be getting £10 but you could put a whole village out for days.”

She added: “It’s dangerous. People target electricity stations, and climb in. People have been killed.”

Those that were arrested this morning were:

A suspect is searched

• A 30-year-old man from Hitchin.

• A 37-year-old man from Hitchin.

• A 44-year-old man from Hitchin.

• A 47-year-old man from Royston.

A suspect is led away by police

• A 35 year-old man from Letchworth GC.

• A 32-year-old from Stevenage.