Rubber roof for Kidderminster school after latest lead theft
A school plagued by metal thieves has declared 'enough is enough' and says it will now replace all of its lead with rubber.
Thieves have left Kidderminster's King Charles I School with bills totalling more than £70,000 after being raided four times in as many years.
In the latest raid, thieves even broke CCTV cameras in a bid to hide their crime before scaling the roof of a listed building at the site in Comberton Road.
About 980ft of lead flashing was stripped from the roof and the brickwork of Hill Grove House, which is used as an administrative block. Now the school has said it will be replacing the stolen metal and any remaining with a modern rubber material, which has no value as scrap.
Sara Knight, site and facilities manager at the school, said: "This is the fourth time we have had a major theft from this Grade II listed building in as many years. The first time they took lead worth £15,000, the second time materials worth a similar amount and last July a further £15,000 worth of lead.
"This time it will cost about £10,000 to replace the slates and the total cost could be £25,000. It costs tens of thousands of pounds in replacements and repairs as well as the inconvenience of the time involved in dealing with these problems.
"The thieves were quite organised and even broke closed circuit television cameras before gaining access to the building," she said
"In the past there was always a problem about replacing the lead with a modern material because it is a Georgian building but officials with Wyre Forest District Council have been very understanding and now there will be no lead for people to take."
The school caters for 1,350 students, aged between 11 and 18, and staff were able to continue normal duties despite the theft because of quick action by roofing contractors called in to carry out repair work.
In the latest raid, the thieves broke in to the site between 2am to 2.30am on June 26 by cutting a padlock on the gate. Pc Phil Green, of West Mercia Police, said: "We are urging the local community to keep an eye on the school, and report anything suspicious."
Witnesses should call 101.
