I used to live in a part of the UK that experienced regular wrecks which were always stripped bare before 'the revenue' could arrive. It was often considered due payment for help received, especially if the crew had been pulled off by Breeches Buoy.
The mindset that wrecks are fair game is not going to go away for some time to come especially as it seems to be a greyish area as far as the law is concerned. Those that do 'liberate' stuff or 'help clear the beach' are supposed to fill in a form and declare anything taken so they can claim salvage on it. This fails to discourage the initial taking doesn't it? If I lived there I suspect I would be on the beach with the rest.
I always go and collect wood off the beach after storms same as a local artist and cabinet maker does. No-one has ever tried to tell us not to, prevent us combing it or told us we are stealing it. It's a small step from beachcombing wood, flotsum and jetsum to stripping a wreck.