Metal thieves have reached a new low by targeting a Dundee playpark and putting children’s safety at risk.
Six aluminium dog grilles have been removed from the play area at Camperdown Park in the second criminal outbreak at the site this month.
The grilles doing the same job as dog and cattle grilles in the countryside were sunk into the entrances of the playpark and kept dogs out of the area.
Measuring three feet by six feet, they were bolted into cement surrounds and covered small pits. They were removed between 3.30pm on Friday and 10.30am on Saturday.
Police say they were likely stolen for scrap value and possibly for melting down.
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said the grilles had a total estimated scrap value of about £2,000.
The play area has reopened and the entrances have been temporarily made safe by filling the pits with sand but this means dogs are not prevented from entering the play area.
Councillor Bob Duncan, convener of the environment committee, said: ”This thoughtless behaviour not only costs the council tax payers of Dundee money but also puts our children at risk.”
Anyone with information on the theft or whereabouts of the aluminium grilles should contact police on 0300 111 2222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
An average of £100,000 worth of metal has been stolen from Tayside sites in each of the last five years. The sale of scrap metal is known to fund criminal activities, particularly on the back of booming economies like China and India importing huge amounts of materials for big building projects.
This has led to a large price hike for a number of metals particularly copper and aluminium and thieves going to more and more audacious lengths to get the goods.
Targeted sites have included churches, building sites, industrial estates, farms, power lines and electricity sub-stations.