A campaign has started in Essex to tackle treasure hunters illegally metal detecting on farmland and archeological sites and stealing important historical artifacts.
It is known as "Nighthawking" and sees things like coins, jewellery and other items with historical and financial value stolen.
The police in Essex says the county is particularly vulnerable "due to the rich heritage and large amounts of arable land in these areas."
Assistant Chief Constable Julia Wortley, Essex Police lead on Territorial Policing, said: "So-called nighthawkers might think they’re no different to people who go metal-detecting for a hobby, but their actions damage the countryside, threaten our heritage and lead to the loss of important and invaluable national artefacts simply to satisfy the greed of a small group of criminals.”
Pc Andy Long, Wildlife, Heritage and Environmental Crime officer, said: "Most people who metal detect as a hobby abide to the law and codes of practice and have a love of the outdoors and history, respecting farmland and other surroundings. Nighthawkers seriously damage that good reputation.
"We are asking land owners and people in rural areas to gather evidence by taking registration numbers of vehicles and descriptions of those involved, and pass these details to the police immediately by calling 101.
"We would urge people not to approach nighthawkers as you may be placing yourself in danger if they become aggressive."
Mark Harrison, National Policing and Crime Advisor for Historic England, said: "The practice of nighthawking is an issue that we take very seriously. We recognise that the majority of the metal detecting community comply with the laws and regulations relating to the discovery and recovery of objects from the land.
"However, just as it is against the law to break into someone's house and steal their possessions, so it is illegal to damage land and steal valuable historical artefacts.
"We are working hard with the police service at a national and local level to identify the criminal minority who operate outside of the law".
Landowners are advised that evidence of nighthawking includes:
- Finding holes dug in fields with no obvious explanation why they are there
- Footwear marks
- Vehicle tyre marks
- Cigarette butts
- Drinks bottles/cans
- Other discarded items.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qbHAq6tnm59jwqx7xKyqnrBfo7K4v46lppyZnGSwornPmqCgpl2owaK%2B06xkraddqa6kt8ueZKehl53Bqa3WpKCnn12eu26x0qycsWc%3D