Police have issued fresh crime prevention advice after a sharp rise in metal theft across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Reports of metal thefts across the county are on the rise, with incidents between December 2025 and February 2026 increasing by 114% compared to the same period the previous year.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary says rising prices for certain metals are helping to fuel a market for criminals targeting items such as scrap metal, copper cabling, piping from empty homes undergoing renovation, agricultural batteries and fencing, catalytic converters and roofing materials.
Police say they are working with regional and national partners to identify organised criminal activity linked to the offences.
Officers are also reviewing reports of metal theft to identify patterns of offending, while patrols are being conducted in rural and isolated areas where repeat incidents have been reported.
Police are encouraging vehicle owners to familiarise themselves with advice around catalytic converter theft, which can be found on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website.
Opportunistic thieves are known to target batteries used in rural settings for electric fencing, vehicles, farming equipment, camping and solar panels.
Stolen batteries are often sold at scrapyards for their lead content, leaving owners facing financial loss and, in some cases, putting livestock at risk if fencing systems fail.
Police advise marking high-value batteries by etching your postcode onto them and painting them pink to make them easily identifiable and less attractive to thieves.
Residents with empty properties or homes undergoing renovation are advised to ensure fittings that have been removed, or are waiting to be installed, are not left in obvious view.
Industrial and construction sites can also be targeted by thieves looking to steal cabling or other metals.
Signs of suspicious activity may include unmarked vehicles near access points, unfamiliar individuals loitering around depots or storage areas, damage to perimeter fencing, work taking place outside normal hours or unlocked gates without clear activity on site.
Police also warn that criminals may sometimes use graffiti-style markings to indicate the presence of cable or other valuable metals.
Businesses and site managers are urged to ensure CCTV systems are functioning correctly, alarms are properly monitored and access points remain secure.
Anyone who notices suspicious activity is encouraged to report it to police by calling 101 or via the online reporting tool on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary website.
Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always dial 999.
