Malvern Metal Thefts - Witness Appeal

Police are appealing for witnesses and asking residents to be on the look out for suspicious activity after a small series of lead thefts at community buildings in Malvern in recent days.

Two churches and two local schools have been targeted:

• Overnight between 6pm on Monday and 12 noon on Tuesday (21-22 November) someone has accessed the roof of St Peter's Church in St Peter's Road, Cowley Bank, and stole a strip of lead flashing approximately two metres long.
• Overnight between 6pm and 10am from Tuesday to Wednesday (22-23 November) a 12ft by 18ins length of lead flashing was taken from St Mary's Church, Clevelode Lane, Guarlford.
• At some time between 10pm on Friday and 6am on Tuesday (18-22 November) someone has climbed onto a flat-roofed area of the school gym at the Chase School, Geraldine Road, and stolen a large quantity of roofing lead.
• At around 10.40pm on Wednesday, a security guard on his rounds disturbed two men attempting to steal a large amount of lead from a building at Malvern College. The two men ran off onto the common opposite the college, leaving the lead stacked up next to the building.

Inspector Jane Francis of the Malvern Local Policing Team, said: "There is currently a problem with metal thefts across the country and we are a little concerned that these thefts have come so close together in Malvern.

"I would like to ask anyone who saw any suspicious activity at or near these churches and schools to contact the police, particularly if you saw these two men running away from Malvern College on Wednesday evening.

"The quantity of lead stolen from Chase School would have been heavy and would have probably required a vehicle to take it away; however, the amounts taken from the churches were smaller and someone on foot could have taken the lead away, perhaps in a rucksack or other large bag.

"I would also like to ask Malvern residents to keep an eye on their local public buildings - schools, churches, libraries, etc - and report any suspicious looking people or vehicles."

Anyone with information about any of the incidents mentioned above can contact Malvern Police Station on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Issued: Thursday, 24 November 2011