Leicester thieves target Mercs
Page 11
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Skip truck operators in Leicester have been hit by a series of thefts believed to be carried out by a professional gang of thieves. Last week a Mercedes 1820 skip loader was taken from Leicester-based Maxi Waste. Owner Jim Abraham says the thieves are particularly interested in Mercedes as he thinks there is a market for the engines overseas.
At least three other skip operators have been hit by the thieves in the past few months. Abraham caught the croaks on closed-circuit television cameras at his yard but so far the police haven't been able to trace them. Just before Christmas owner-driver "They're mainly after the skip trucks Rob Abraham from Ace Skip Hire, based which they break up and take abroad," he just outside Leicester, lost his Mercedes 1717 4x2. "It's the first time this has happened in 18 years of trading," he says. "It seems to be the Mem that's red hot at the moment. The thieves are not local people, they're experts who follow you or watch your yard."
A couple of weeks ago Hales Containers, part of the RMG group, had a break in at its yard but the thieves were unable to bypass the vehicles' immobilisers. Manager Nick Coutts says the problem is increasing in the area. believes, "All you can do is fit good immobilisers, have a secure yard and fix up CCTV cameras."
Vic Burgess. director of scrap metal dealer AE Burgess & Sons, had a Mercedes skip truck stolen just before Christmas. He says he heard of at least four others that had been stolen at around that time. "I think my driver must have been followed because he didn't park it in the usual place," says Burgess.
Leicester police declined to comment on the thefts.