While police were preoccupied and the community concerned, opportunist metal thieves were busy stealing fencing from Ely recreational gardens.
This is another case of metal theft to hit Cardiff, a crime costing councils in Wales at least £820,000 in 2011/12.
In light of this, local metal companies are hardening up their policies through Operation Tornado. Neil O’Sullivan from Cardiff Metal Buyers Limited explains the UK wide scheme, “We don’t take metal from anyone unless they have an ID with a photo, or a passport and utility bill.
“If you get a suspicious character come in, like a 17 year old kid with a trolley full of lead saying ‘My dad gave it to me’, I’ll say, ‘Get your dad to come here and bring his ID’.”
