In order to clamp down on the thieves – described by one victim as the “scum of the earth” – police in the Calderdale Valleys region have accepted help from motorcycle clubs to provide extra patrols.
Some thieves are preying on flood victims who have left their property out to dry, according to West Yorkshire Police in the Calderdale Valleys.
On Dec. 28, 2015, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron visited the flood-hit historic city of York as cities, towns and villages across northern England battled to get back on their feet following the devastating flood. Several homes were evacuated in Yorkshire and Lancashire, due to overflowing of rivers in Manchester, Hebden Bridge and Leeds. Severe flood warnings, including those indicating a danger to life, were issued.
The army has been deployed to some villages to bolster flood defense, and thousands have been evacuated. The Met Office has warned of further rainfall for northern England, Scotland and Wales. Pictured: Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron (C) talks to a resident during a visit to view the flooding situation in York, U.K.
A spokesman said: “As the clean-up of Mytholmroyd, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge continues, we are being made aware of persons attending the area and removing items which are being left outside properties either for disposal or to dry out.
“In order to ensure the safety of empty properties in the area additional police resources have been drafted in from other districts and areas.
“In addition to this, several motorcycle clubs from the Bradford and surrounding areas have volunteered to patrol the area as extra eyes and ears on the ground.”
In a Facebook post, a company spokesman said: “Struggling for words here we got flooded on Saturday as did a lot of people. Last night we were robbed by the scum of the earth praying on flood victims.”