Villagers warned over lead thefts

Staffordshire villagers are being warned to be on their guard from thieves who have stolen lead from homes following a spate of thefts in their area.

Four houses have been targeted in the last week in Penkridge.

They are in Fallowfield Close, Elm Walk, Tildesley Close and St Michaels Road between Monday and Wednesday of this week. On each occasion lead flashing has been removed from the roofs of houses and garages costing the homeowners hundreds of pounds in repairs.

Officers from Watling Street Neighbourhood Policing Unit (NPU) are warning householders to be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to them.

Inspector Mark Jones, of the unit urged people with information about the thefts to contact police.

He said: "Lead thefts are quite common and whilst the value of scrap lead is currently very low, the cost to the property owner in the form of repairs can be disproportionately higher.

"There has been a number of thefts in the Penkridge area over the last week and we would urge people to report anyone acting suspiciously to us or any vehicles which they think don't recognise in their street and may become suspicious of.

"Unfortunately this is a problem which happens from time to time in a particular area and at the moment it is taking place in Penkridge.

"Other villages have been targeted in the past." He said that stealing lead from roofs if a common target for thieves but they have been known to target drain covers and people's gates.

He added: "This is a problem which won't go away unfortunately but we can ask people to be extra vigilant and report suspicious behaviour.

"Our officers are aware of the current lead theft problem and are trying to gather information to find out who these people are."

People with information should call Staffordshire Police on 0300 1234455.