North Yorks police crack down on Al crime wave
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• by Dominic Perry Hauliers plagued by thefts from trailers along the Al in North Yorkshire have convinced police to devote extra resources to tackling the problem.
The North Yorkshire force says it recognises that thefts have become a growing problem for operators.
In the 99 days up to 10 May this year 40 offences were reported in North Yorkshire alone, with a problem area identified running from Markham Moor roundabout in Nottinghamshire to Scotch Corner in North Yorkshire.
So far seven people have been arrested in connection with the offences: two from Manchester and five from West Yorkshire. sgt Steve Smith is in charge of Nonl Yorkshire's response to the issue. He says: "It's problem up and down the country but we hal decided to take the bull by the horns and make concerted effort to tackle it. Part of the proble: is that the Al is quite rural and remote and if yr see a police car on it at night it's quite rare—hi that's something we will have to address."
Smith adds that many drivers coming up froi the South en route to the North-East are forcx to stop overnight along the Al as they lack suff dent hours to return home, making them vulnerz Ole to criminals.
Thieves have been targeting curtainsider slashing them with knives and then making o with the contents.
Among the victims Newcastle-based haulier Er Short. He says: "The police kno there's a problem and they aren running away from it, but tin can't be in every lay-by and a park on the Al."
"We know we'll never stamp out completely, but we'll have damn good go," says Smith.
• Contact: Sgt Steve Smith 01757 702596, ext 27133.