Cheshire Police Authority has welcomed continued action to combat metal thefts.
At a recent meeting the authority were informed that officers carry out regular checks on scrap metal dealers, patrol vulnerable areas and encourage owners of industrial sites to step up their security.
The Chairman of the Authority, Margaret Ollerenshaw, said "Stealing metal, including power cable and pipes carrying gas or water, sometimes results in danger, as well as inconvenience, to other people. It is an issue of real concern."
Cheshire Police officers also work closely with British Transport Police, who investigate thefts of cable and other metal from railway property.
The two police forces exchange information about stolen items they discover at scrap yards and in other locations. During a day of action against metal theft earlier in December, Cheshire officers stopped vehicles which they knew were used by metal thieves and recovered some stolen property.
Cheshire′s Chief Constable, Dave Whatton said "If someone steals a grid or manhole cover from the road there could be serious consequences for drivers who may not spot the hole in time to avoid it. Public safety is one of the reasons we take this type of crime very seriously indeed.
"Many of these thefts are equally dangerous for the criminals themselves. Stealing power cable obviously presents a hazard and pipes which carry gas or water under high pressure can also cause injury or death when they are interfered with."
He added "In many cases thieves see a metal item and believe they can make some easy money.
"At the other end of the scale we see criminals mount planned, military- style operations to steal large quantities of heavy-duty piping and miles of copper cable.
"Both types of crime can be extremely dangerous for the criminal. Stealing high voltage cable, for instance, can obviously result in death or serious injury for the thieves. On occasions, the theft may also disable vital safety devices on equipment or bring a production line to a standstill and put jobs in jeopardy.
"Since the price of metals rose steeply we have seen an increase in this type of crime across Britain. We will continue to make every effort to put that trend into reverse."
