Postmen left baffled after scrap metal thieves strip entire

[Eric Cantona]

Postmen left baffled after scrap metal thieves strip entire streets of brass number plates


Last updated at 4:35 PM on 27th July 2011

Postmen have been left bewildered after five streets were stripped of their house numbers by scrap metal thieves.
The sleepy market town of Chatteris, in Cambridge, has been thrown into confusion after the overnight thefts.

Police believe that a gang of scrap metal thieves armed with screwdrivers targeted at least five streets during the night-time raid.
Thieves stole house numbers to five streets making postal deliveries impossible
Soaring scrap metal prices have been blamed for a 14 per cent surge in burglaries and thefts of items including manhole covers, gas pipes and even supermarket trolleys.
Rachelle Foot, 34, who had her door number stolen from two weeks ago, says won't be replacing her house number in case the thieves return.

Postman stashed more than 31,000 undelivered parcels and letters at his home - because he was too drunk to deliver them

She said: 'They stole the door number that my husband had made for us. It was just a piece of slate with silver numbers on it. I don't expect they would get much for it.
'I won't be replacing it with a new one when I know they are still out there.
The sleepy market town of Chatteris in Cambridge has been thrown into confusion after the thefts
'If I do I will get a massive rock and paint a number on it.
'I felt quite stupid reporting it to the police, but I was concerned that someone had been outside the house late at night.
'I was quite scared the next morning when I realised how close someone had been to my house holding a screw driver.'
PC Andy Rudd, of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, revealed the thieves have even stolen brass door knockers.
He said: 'They are even stealing brass door knockers from people's homes. Brass only sells for about £2.80 per kilo as scrap.

'I had visitors on the weekend and they couldn't find my house for at least ten minutes. '
'We are drawing up a map of where the thefts took place and will keep working to find those responsible.'
One resident said: 'I had visitors on the weekend and they couldn't find my house for at least ten minutes.
'I spoke to the postman this morning and he says it's a total nightmare.’
Local councillor Christine Colbert described Friday’s thefts as 'very worrying.'
She said: 'There's generally not a lot of crime in Chatteris so this sort of theft is quite upsetting.
'It's disturbing for people to know that someone has crept up to their front door in the middle of the night especially for the elderly or people living alone.
'The theft of house numbers is very worrying because typically you only hear about street signs and manhole covers being stolen for scrap metal.'
Local residents say upwards of 50 house number plates have gone missing and complain that bemused postmen and visitors are now unable to find their houses.


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[DGP1]

Why would it even affect an experienced postie? I know the house numbers without having to look at the numbers (not including the mis deliveries made when I'm on auto pilot ).

[fishtank]

(not including the mis deliveries made when I'm on auto pilot ).

You can't beat that feeling as the letters leave your fingers and it dawns on you that this is number 4 not number 6.
The postman's eternal question...knock or leg it?

[Eric Cantona]

Very rare I look at the numbers every house or gate is different, If I was the daily mail I would be more concerned for the emergency services rather than the postie..

[DGP1]

(not including the mis deliveries made when I'm on auto pilot ).

You can't beat that feeling as the letters leave your fingers and it dawns on you that this is number 4 not number 6.
The postman's eternal question...knock or leg it?

Knock.........because as sure as hell they'll be the ones who have gone away for 6 months

[Stormproof]

Rachelle Foot, 34, who had her door number stolen from two weeks ago, says won't be replacing her house number in case the thieves return.

Should be interesting if the emergency services need to find her house


The metal thieves in this area stripped the local Crematorium of all the brass plaques.

[Wessex]

I would imagine that out on the Fens that locals will have a shrewd guess as to which criminal gangs might be responsible.

[chunk]

I would imagine that out on the Fens that locals will have a shrewd guess as to which criminal gangs might be responsible.

.

pretty poor "scrap metal thieves" even if their solid brass!
thats hardly enough metal to make saucepan.
Car booter more like or just summer holiday madness from a bored school kid with a screwdriver. .

Still feeling sorry for the poor confused postman.
I hope hes booking......

[daveyeff]

Why would it even affect an experienced postie? I know the house numbers without having to look at the numbers (not including the mis deliveries made when I'm on auto pilot ).

been halfway down a block of flats before realising i was in the wrong block. got down to the 8th floor from the 16th before the penny dropped. 8 doors per floor, not a soul came out to say anything.,,,,luckily they were just sky mags.

[Lounge Lizard]

"Thieves stole house numbers to five streets making postal deliveries impossible" - and some of the local residents weren't sure if they had got home to the right house.

[Wessex]

I would imagine that out on the Fens that locals will have a shrewd guess as to which criminal gangs might be responsible.

.

pretty poor "scrap metal thieves" even if their solid brass!
thats hardly enough metal to make saucepan.
Car booter more like or just summer holiday madness from a bored school kid with a screwdriver. .

Still feeling sorry for the poor confused postman.
I hope hes booking......

Think you're right , bored teenagers.

[taurus88]

Why would it even affect an experienced postie?

It wouldn't affect an experienced postie. But, in our office, there aren't many walks lucky enough to have an experienced postie who knows the area. Lots of reserves getting tossed hither and thither. They know the whole town, but they don't know know the whole town.

[REDLETTER]

Buy a tin of white paint and paint the f*cking numbers on the walls - All good council estates have them!

[Eric Cantona]

Buy a tin of white paint and paint the f*cking numbers on the walls - All good council estates have them!

That made me laugh. You are right though...