Metal can now be sold for good prices and many residents of the Benissa countryside , on the Costa Blanca , have been robbed recently of metal objects.Times are hard in Spain and there are many people with no income and families to feed.These are the conditions which can turn people to crime when otherwise they would never think of stealing.

Residents have reported men in the area and one in particular who was placing stickers on properties.He told one woman that the stickers were advertising a locksmith.Others say that these stickers are colour coded as they have noticed that they are green , red or yellow.There is no evidence to prove the point but some think that green means that there is metal available , while red indicates the presence of an alarm system or dogs.

Someone also saw three men taking metal objects from a skip.The residents who have had items stolen from their property have reported the thefts to the police.The police have increased their patrols in the area.