A grit of a cheek

A 10-STRONG gang of con-men stole eight tonnes of grit from a local salt depot after posing as council sub-contractors.

A group of three vehicles — a Range Rover, a truck and a van — arrived at the depot where some of the borough’s grit supply is stored.

The scammers, equipped with a mechanical loading shovel, approached a member of the Highways team who was preparing stock for loading on to the council’s team of grit lorries.

The gang claimed to be sub-contractors working for the council on snowclearing. They said they had come to collect grit stocks for this purpose.

Having challenged this as untrue, the staff member was threatened and the men then proceeded to shovel salt on to the truck before fleeing the depot.

The staff member moved his vehicle in an attempt to block their exit and managed to alert the council’s First Response team.

The incident was caught on camera and the vehicles were subsequently tracked. Greater Manchester Police were informed and investigations are ongoing.

Councillor John McCann said: “This is an outrageous incident and a theft of vital stocks that are used to keep ordinary citizens safe on the roads.

“It is amazing how selfish some people are and I cannot believe that anyone would stoop so low as to attempt to make personal gain out of weather conditions that are causing problems for us all — and are especially difficult for the more vulnerable members of society.

“Our gritting staff work extraordinarily long hours to keep vital services running and the actions of these men, who feel it is OK to demand and threaten is beyond belief.

“If anyone is approached by someone offering to sell grit — or to clear driveways — it is highly likely the salt they are using has been stolen.

“In recent days we’ve also had several reports of people loading stockpiles of salt from local grit bins.

“We have 596 of these across the borough, which are regularly refilled, but it has become clear that some people are removing grit for their own ends.

“We appreciate that people have difficulties in this weather but taking matters into your hands does not help anyone. Removing this stock is theft and can have serious consequences. The details of these incidents, which have occurred across the borough, are being passed on the police and we will not hesitate to prosecute anyone caught doing this.

“If any member of the public is experiencing problems because of the weather then they should contact the council.

“In recent days we have carried out emergency tasks — for example, in assisting a patient to attend an urgent hospital appointment — and we will do our utmost to help you.

“Please call either our Snow Desk on 0161-770 4421/4423 (daytime hours only) or the First Response team 0161-770 2222 at any other time.”

The latest information about winter weather, gritting, school closures, transport and driving is available 24/7 at www. oldham.gov.uk/winter.

Meanwhile, more than 13 vehicles have been stolen across Greater Manchester in the last five days as opportunistic thieves take advantage of motorists leaving their cars unattended while they defrost.

Officers have stepped up patrols in hot-spot areas during the early hours to crack down on such crime.

Det Supt Mark Bell, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Many insurance companies will not pay out any insurance claims on vehicles stolen this way.

“I would urge people to give themselves a little more time in the morning so they can wrap up warm and stay in their car while they defrost it.”