Church set to beat metal theft

Church set to beat metal theft


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Published: 12 March 2009

Manchester Cathedral was the venue for the launch of a campaign that hopes to reduce metal theft from church buildings. The campaign introduces a Church Watch scheme to Greater Manchester and its website at www.beatmetaltheft.org offers the latest information on beating the thieves.

Church Watch encourages neighbours who live opposite church buildings to report any suspicious behaviour to the police or members of the congregation. Posters featuring ‘Griff the Gargoyle’ will be placed on church railings warning thieves that neighbours are watching them and that the police will be called. Gargoyles are the traditional guardians of the building on which they are placed and it is hoped the unusual image we be a powerful reminder to thieves that they are being watched by unseen eyes.

Cathedral and churches stripped

Manchester Cathedral was the first cathedral to have its lead stripped in August 2008. Ten lead drain pipes were ripped from the side of the cathedral and a large section of lead removed from its roof, causing rainwater damage. The repairs cost £23,000. The police caught the thieves following a call from a passer by who saw the robbery taking place.

Metal theft is a growing issue, driven by the rise in demand for the likes of lead, copper and titanium.

In April 2008 church insurer, EIG, received nearly 350 lead theft claims, with the total bill for theft of metal from churches running at around £14m since the beginning of 2007. 

In Manchester there has been an explosion of thefts:

  • 2005, 5 claims costing £5000
  • 2007, 26 claims costing £350,000
  • 2008, 122 claims costing £385,000. 

Prevent-Watch-Report

The Beat Metal Theft campaign encourages churches to tackle the threat of lead theft using a three-stranded strategy of prevent, watch and report.

Visit www.BeatMetalTheft.org for details.


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