Pair of salvagers who took dumped items claim police told them the arrest operation had cost £20,000

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

A police operation involving eight officers and a helicopter was launched after two "salvagers" were caught taking scrap from a tip.

Owen Gray, 50, and Angela Cubitt, 34, helped themselves to an old video games console and an electric drill that had been dumped at their local recycling centre in Gloucester.

They say they were amazed when the officers, backed by the helicopter, swooped on them as they walked home.

Computer engineer Gray was later fined £20 and Cubitt was released without charge. They claim officers told them the cost of the arrest operation was £20,000 and that the scrap value of the old electrical goods was 47p.

Gray said: "All they will do with the stuff at the tip is crush it and burn the plastic. I pick up whatever catches my eye and try to fix it. When they let us out, a copper told me it had cost £20,000 to get us nicked and that the items only cost 47p scrap."

Gloucestershire police defended its response. Superintendent Gary Thompson said: "We take reports of crimes in progress very seriously.

"I make no apology, least of all to any offenders, for responding seriously to an incident like this and would urge the person responsible to think more about the impact their actions had."

The police could not say how much the operation cost.