MORE than 100 vehicles were stopped and checked in a police operation scrapmetal thieves.

The focus of the week-long Operation Soundwave was Houghton-le-Spring and Hetton-le-Hole where scrap metal thefts have increased.

Increased patrols stopped scrap metal vans to ensure they were genuine dealers and had the correct paperwork.

Officers also visited scrap metal yards to make sure details of transactions were recorded correctly – as is required by law.

A multi-agency roads operation aimed at disrupting suspected criminals travelling through the region saw officers, along with staff from Vehicle and Operating Standards Agency (VOSA), DVLA and HM Revenue and Customs, carry out over 100 vehicle checks.

Ten drivers were issued with summonses for use and document offences, nine vehicle defect rectification scheme (VDRS) notices were handed out to drivers of vehicles with defects and four vehicles were towed away under section 165 of the road traffic act.

One van was seized by Customs for using red diesel, two people were summonsed by the Environment Agency, one person was reported for benefit offences and a fixed penalty notice was given to a driver not wearing a seatbelt.

Motor Patrols Chief Inspector George Maratty said: “Thieves are taking advantage of people leaving metal items in back gardens and yards and cashing in on the stolen goods.

“Focused operations such as this send out a clear message that we are taking action to disrupt this type of criminal behaviour and make sure those responsible face the consequences.”