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Far from the traditional image of rag n' bone men trawling the streets with a horse and cart, scrap metal dealers are now at the heart of a multi-billion pound industry.

Sixty per cent of metals recycled in Britain are exported, most ending up in China and the Far East.

Schools, churches and other public buildings have regularly been targeted, as well as manhole covers, monuments and memorials, sculptures, copper from railway signal boxes, and even lengths of railtrack.

Police say this demand for metal, and the lucrative rewards to be made, are leading some unscrupulous scrap dealers to turn a blind eye when stolen gear arrives at their door.

Outlawing cash payments would go some way to addressing this; but it would mean a complete overhaul of the long-held habits of the scrap industry. Others are calling for a review of legislation: the Scrap Metal Dealers' Act dates back to the 1960's and is no longer fit for purpose, it's claimed.

Although metal prices have recently fallen in the credit crunch, police say the problems are continuing as people exploit the chance to make some easy money.

This week's 'Eye on Wales' looks at what Welsh police and other agencies are doing to combat the problem; and hears from those who have been affected.