Road salt thefts could put lives in danger
West
Somerset police are sending warnings to residents after a number of
opportunist thieves have stolen valuable rock salt left at
roadsides, reports Somerset County Gazette.
Bags of salt distributed by Somerset City Council for use on the roads during particularly icy days have been going missing, leaving the Highways Authority in a precarious and potentially dangerous situation when it comes to a snowy day.
Inspector Lisa Simpson is urging the thieves to consider their actions: "By stealing the salt the thief is compromising both the safety of residents and visitors to the area and adding extra strain to the local budget.
"This is a theft and we will deal with those involved robustly," she added.
Since the bags of salt have gone missing, commuters, farmers and travellers in West Somerset have been urged to err on the side of caution when it comes to using roads in the winter months.
Conservative councillor Harvey Siggs has lambasted the thieves, telling BBC News: "The victims of these crimes will be the motorists stranded alone in the most inhospitable and remote places in Somerset, because I can't guarantee we'll be replacing every stolen bag."
Source: Vertical Leap
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