Crane thefts sink JME by Rob Willock • Willenhall haulier
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JME Glass Recycling has gone under after becoming the latest victim of a spate of crane loader thefts in the Black Country.
Owner Jamie Wilkes is cursing his luck after the company vehicle's Tracker system failed, but there was worse news: Norwich Union had cancelled his insurance policy just three days before.
"I'm closing the business and giving the chaps their P45s," says Wilkes. He had three employees.
Wilkes' solicitor has contacted Norwich Union and Tamworth broker JB Barker to check their positions on the matter. Neither would comment, but Wilkes says Norwich Union is citing his eventful claims history as the reason for cancelling his policy. "Norwich Union smelt a rat and decided to pull my cover," he says. "I didn't have time to arrange a new policy before the vehicle was stolen."
He says he has had three other vehicles stolen in the past two years. The latest one to go was a blue, 17-tonne ex-British Gas Leyland Freighter with a front-mounted Hiab crane and aluminium drop-side body, registration G550 DI(D.