Lead thefts from historic Batley town centre buildings

Batley Baths

Published on 27/10/2012 07:00

AUDACIOUS thieves have stolen valuable lead from large public buildings just metres from Batley police station.

Lead flashing and sheeting has been removed from Batley Library and Batley Baths and Recreation Centre in Market Place over the past two weeks.

And an electricity sub station has been targeted twice in a week for its Yorkshire stone roofing tiles.

Thieves climbed onto the roof of the sub station in Well Lane on October 11 and stole stone worth an estimated £5,000. In a second incident, thieves removed 15 square metres of stone, worth around £1,500.

Staff at Batley Baths reported the lead theft last Wednesday after an engineer working on the roof noticed the damage.

Operations manager Lyndsey Kaye said: “Most of the lead sheeting was gone and tiles had been broken. Since then the roof has been leaking and water has been coming straight into the fitness suite.

“It’s not going to be a cheap fix.

“This is the third year I have worked here and this is the third occasion something like this has happened. It has really become an issue – in a recession we’re seen as an easy target.”

In the same week, thieves climbed onto the roof of Batley Library and removed lead from the back of the building.

Police are encouraging people to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Batley Neighbourhood Policing Team coordinator, Martyn Lee, said: “Metal theft is a widespread problem due to the higher demand and prices now fetched for scrap metal. It is being addressed at a national level.

“We are also working closely with the Environment Agency to identify offenders and the sites they are using to process and sell-on stolen metal.

“Regular checks are carried out at all licensed scrap metal dealers to account for what is being brought into their scrap yards and ensure that satisfactory records are kept.”

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Lead thefts from historic Batley town centre buildings

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