Lead thieves leave Bristol church's roof leaking
Thieves have stripped lead off a church roof in Bristol, leaving it leaking in recent heavy downpours.
It will cost at least £40,000 to restore.
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Lead thieves leave Bristol church's roof leaking
St Peter's Church, in The Drive, Henleaze, has had sections of the metal flashing stolen from its side aisle roof three times during the last two weeks.
And with the recent heavy rain, the church has been flooding because of the lack of cover and staff have had to put out buckets to collect the water.
As the roof is not visible from the ground, the first lot of missing lead was only noticed when a parish member reported puddles inside the church one morning, but it is believed that it could have been taken at the beginning of the month.
More was stolen overnight on May 15, and again on May 18.
St Peter's vicar, the Rev Mark Pilgrim, said that repairing the damage would take funds away from improvement work they were planning for the church hall.
He said: "We are so disappointed that people would target the church. It's not only the fact that it has been stolen but also the hassle of replacing the lead and the damage done inside.
"We were hoping to do work on the church hall to improve facilities for the community, but this will set those plans back a bit."
Parish administrator Frances Bailey said it is expected to cost £40,000 to re-roof the building.
She said: "They have taken about half the lead from the roof of the side aisle, and the rain has been pouring in.
"At the moment we are contemplating taking all the lead off and putting something else there in its place, to stop them taking anymore.
"It is obviously a valuable commodity, but it is a tragedy that someone has done this to our church. Lots of people are shocked, shaking their heads in disbelief."
Lead was also stolen from the church's porch roof about a year ago.
Mrs Bailey has sent letters to neighbours of the church asking them to keep their eyes open.
Steve Game, spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police, confirmed that the police had been contacted about the incidents, but said that no arrests had been made. Tony Hughes, a police community support officer in the area, said: "I have advised the person who initially reported the crime that it would be a good idea to have our crime reduction unit do a survey on the property to advise them how best to secure it. Hopefully that will be arranged in the next few days."
3 Comments
by Malik, Eastville
Tuesday, May 26 2009, 11:27PM
“"Decent people are forced to pay for thieves' health needs, even injuries sustained in the course of committing crimes as you point out. "
These lead thieves are scum, without a doubt, but what makes you think that they don't pay any tax?
Every time you make a purchase, you pay some tax. Are you trying to say they never buy anything and pay VAT? And what is it about stealing lead that makes you immune to paying council tax?
When and if they're caught and successfully prosecuted, lock them up and force them to pay compensation to the church for the damage if possible. But let's try to be logical about all this, shall we?”
by MikeMSN, Midsomer Norton
Tuesday, May 26 2009, 4:54PM
“Interesting comment, Ben. You reveal the immorality of the 'free at point of use' health system. Decent people are forced to pay for thieves' health needs, even injuries sustained in the course of committing crimes as you point out. Decent people pay to patch up drunken yobs who fill the public spaces. Complacency about the universal system of welfare without regard to desert or responsibilty is ruinous to social good. But I don't think any political party has any proposition to correct this poisonous social arrangement.”
by Ben, Bristol
Tuesday, May 26 2009, 11:16AM
“And if the thieves had fallen through the roof injuring themselves, more strain on the NHS.
Kind of makes you wish they had come to some sort of harm though doesn't it?”