Metal Thieves Cause Floods In Kidderminster

Metal thieves caused two floods in Kidderminster after breaking in through the roofs.

Offenders broke into a building in Coventry Street via the roof on the evening of Tuesday, 31^st January.

Once inside they took just £6 worth of copper piping, which resulted in a major flood. Water cascaded down two floors and out into the street.

Police were alerted by the fire service, who had been called out at 7.40pm. Firefighters using a ladder broke in through a window and found water pouring from a pipe in the roof into a first floor flat and the ground floor Going Places travel agents.

In another incident an empty building in Worcester Street was targeted between Friday 27th January and Wednesday 1st February.

Offenders forced entry possibly via the roof and removed a significant quantity of lead from the roof and a small amount of copper piping from inside. It also caused a flood, although not as serious as the one in Coventry Street.

PC Atoosa Nasri of West Mercia Police said: "In both incidents we believe the offenders accessed the buildings via the roofs.

"We don't know exactly when the Worcester Street incident happened but the Blackwell Street one was on Tuesday evening, when there would have been people out and about in the town centre."

Police are appealing to people to be vigilant, and to ring police if they see people on roofs at night.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the Worcester Street or Blackwell Street incidents are asked to contact PC Nasri on 0300 333 3000, or alternatively calls can be made to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.