03 January, 2012
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
