£40k of metal taken in raid

Ten huge steel beams worth £40,000 have been stolen from a Wolverhampton firm during a raid as the metal theft epidemic continues to blight the region.

The 19ft beams, which each weigh 2.2 tons, were being stored at Wolverhampton Shot and Paint in Showell Road, Bushbury, when the thieves struck. The beams had been loaded onto a truck and bosses were waiting for permission from police to transport them to a building site in Wales. But the night before the consignment was due to start its journey, the thieves pounced.

The beams belong to Shifnal-based firm Steel Frame Structures and the firm's boss, Steve Morgan, is offering a £5,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of the thieves.

He said today that the beams were in Wolverhampton to be painted.

The firm took delivery of the beams three weeks ago and they were going to be used in a housing development.

He said they were worth an estimated £40,000 and the articulated trailer they were loaded on cost around £12,000.

He said: "It's a devastating blow to us. Everyone is in disbelief – they can't believe the thieves could have moved them.

"I can't believed they managed to travel off the premises."

Mr Morgan, who has run the business for the past six years, said moving the consignment out of the yard would have been tricky and has reported the theft to West Midlands Police.

The beams were taken some time between 4am and 7am yesterday. Anyone with information should call officers on 0845 113 5000.

The raid is the latest in a long line of metal thefts plaguing the region due to the booming price of scrap lead, copper and steel.

Yesterday the Express & Star reported how thieves had taken police road signs used to inform people about fatal or serious car crashes.

Church and memorial plaques have also been targeted and thieves have turned their attention to drain covers. In Wolverhampton, 130 covers have been stolen since April, costing £16,000.