High price blamed for lead thefts

Many buildings still have lead and copper on their roofs

Schools, churches and roads in south Wales are being targeted by thieves for scrap metal, with the blame put on high metal prices.

In Cardiff, five schools have been stripped of their roof lead in the past few months.

Churches across the region are also being targeted, with even manhole covers taken from streets.

In one instance, copper cables were dug up and stolen from a road in the Vale of Glamorgan.

South Wales Police have said that gangs are stripping what metal they can find to cash in on the high price of metal.

Pc Dick Collins, a crime prevention officer in the Vale of Glamorgan, said that in the past three months, there had been 12 reports of metal thefts in the area.

There is lead flashing on most homes but they are not targeting them because there is more chance of being caught Pc Dick Collins

"There has been a rise in the theft of metal and that's because the cost of scrap metal has gone up," he said.

"They are targeting copper and lead. In the Vale, schools have been targeted and we have seen an increase in metal thefts over the last few months."

He said gangs usually targeted buildings which were empty at night or on weekends and stripped the lead from the roofs.

"There is lead flashing on most homes, but they are not targeting them because there is more chance of being caught," he said.

Last year in Merthyr Tydfil, there were reports of manhole covers being stolen and road signs being taken down.

One church in Cardiff saw its new £48,000 roof, paid for after months of fundraising, stripped of its lead.

A spokesman from the Church in Wales said: "Theft of lead from church buildings has been a huge problem for the Church in Wales recently.

"We have had roughly 10 times more cases this year than we usually have. "The cost will be covered by insurance but it causes great inconvenience, particularly when it rains."

A Cardiff Council spokesman said: "Five Cardiff schools have had lead taken from their roofs in the last couple of months.

"In all cases the lead has been replaced and this has not caused any disruption at the schools affected.

"However, Cardiff Council is concerned about this spate of thefts and stolen lead has to be continually replaced. This will put pressure on our budgets," he added.

Pc Collins said: "We need the parents and the children of schools to contact us if they notice something unusual at night or at the weekend.

"If anyone sees anything, any activity on the building or the roofs, then get in touch," he added.