Officers are visiting scrap-yards across the Northamptonshire as part of Operation Pilfer - an initiative launched last March in an effort to curb spiraling thefts of metals, particularly from church roofs.
Companys at risk from metal theft are being given SmartWater to mark up their lead, copper and other materials.. They are also giving out the warning signs to churches as their lead roofs are often targeted, sometimes repeatedly. Places of worship hit in the last three months have included Moulton Church, St Andrew’s in Great Billing, St Mary the Virgin in Little Houghton, St Michael’s in Wee- don Road, Northampton and St Michael’s in Upton. Police are now hoping to work with scrap metal dealers and the owners of the buildings themselves to crack down on the problem.
Assistant Chief Constable at Northamptonshire Police, Dean Smith, said: “We are doing everything possible both to deter offenders and to bring offenders before the courts. To tackle this issue as effectively as we can, we need individuals and businesses to play their part as well by taking steps such as putting up Operation Pilfer signs, using SmartWater and generally making their properties as secure as possible.”
Spokesman for the Peterborough Diocese, Derek Williams, said: “We welcome all efforts to reduce metal thefts from churches. Such thefts are a drain on local community resources, as churches receive no state funding for maintenance.”