MR ROLLING and his letter (HAS, Dec 17) referring to some stolen brass taps is, I’m afraid, way off the mark, especially accusing the scrapyards of being knowingly involved in this type of behaviour.

I personally find his unfounded remark an unsavoury slur on our profession.

The scrap metal industry is one of the few businesses that is very closely monitored and has to adhere to very strict rules including cashless payments.

For anyone to be able to sell to us we need both photographic ID and vehicle registration.

Payment is made by cheque or bank transfer as it is illegal for any scrap dealer to pay cash for metal and has been since December 3, 2012.

It is common place to receive a number of perfectly good taps sometimes dozens in the scrap from plumbers etc. as people usually replace them whilst updating their kitchens, bathrooms etc. and no longer because they are old or broken.

The criminals who did this are obviously desperate and deserve to be caught and punished as I’m sure they would take the sugar from your tea.

Who do you blame then Tate & Lyle?

John Cumberland, Rushyford