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Metal thieves strike at crematorium
Wednesday 3rd June 2009, 4:15PM BST.
Metal thieves have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to Wolverhampton’s Bushbury Crematorium after stripping copper from the roof in a late-night raid.
The latest attack is the fourth time in seven months that the Underhill Lane site has been targeted by metal thieves. The council is now looking at replacing the copper on the roof with a felt covering that will cost taxpayers around £15,000. The crematorium is the second busiest in the region, with 2,500 services held annually.
Around 40 sq m of copper sheeting was taken from the roof of the East Chapel and adjoining buildings in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Adam Clelland, senior officer with Wolverhampton City Council’s bereavement services, said today: “It appears that this time they have actually gone up on to the roof of the building to get to the copper.
“We are now reviewing the CCTV from the crematorium and will be handing it over to the police.”
Repair work was today under way following the theft and Mr Clelland said that no funeral services would be disrupted.
He added: “Fortunately there is an inner skin under where the copper was that protects the buildings below, however, we will need to carry out some work to ensure that it is initially waterproofed in case there are any heavy downpours in the next few days.
“We will endeavour to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.”
Thieves previously struck once last November and twice in December, on each occasion taking part of the copper fascia boards from the front of the East Chapel. As a result, remedial work totalling £4,000 had to be carried out.
The gates of Bushbury Cemetery are locked at 7pm each night and it is thought the intruders scaled the fence to access the site.
The Black Country has been badly hit by metal thieves who have stripped churches, schools and other buildings of lead and steel to cash in on soaring prices.
It prompted a police campaign called Operation Steel.
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If the police were like the old day police, they would have an idea who is doing this, unfortunately due to incompetence and laziness these thieves like other criminals will get away.
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AGAIN I AGREE WITH KAREN THEY WILL ALWAYS GET AWAY WITH IT,AND NOW THE PUBLIC HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AGAIN.I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME BODY PATROLING OUR CEMETREYS TO STOP THESE HEARTLESS CRIMINALS.
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YOU CAN’T PRINT WHAT I THINK OF THESE PEOPLE. REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK OF THE POLICE, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE THEFTS.THIS CLAIM BELONGS TO THE REPREHENSIBLE CREATURES THAT TRY TO PASS FOR HUMAN BEINGS.
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CCTV to thecity control sensors on lights and patrol anity slip paints and and intruder alarms would do the job for sometime but carnt deter the dertermin burgler thats the problem andthey been disrespectfull of every one
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Unfortunately the police are more likely to target the innocent motorist for no seatbelt or excess speed to meet home office targets rather than go after the real criminals.
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5…Mr Jones so now breaking the speed limit or wearing no seatbelt is not a crime !!!
whether you steal copper from roofs or where no seat belt its breaking the law so either way you are a criminal(I use “you” metaphorically). I know what you mean by the real criminals but facts are facts and law breaking is law breaking.
The police are not to blame I blame the people who harbour these “scumbags” people know who these “scumbags” are and should pass on information. That is the only way to combat these sort of people.
But then again should the police get their men so to speak, the criminal justice system is a whole new argument
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6….Baggieboy exceeding the speed limit or wearing no seatbelt is not a crime, please tell me who victim of the crime is? There is no victim, it is just an avenue the police like to use to meet their home office targets. If the police spent more time tackling real crime and less time raising revenue for the home office, maybe they would get some respect.
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Are the police targetting the dodgy scrap dealers ?
There is obviously a demand for it.
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The police are a waste of space. I live near the crem and we had our caravan broke into. We reported it the police. Needless to say they never attended. It took 3 phone calls to Wednesfield as well as a visit in person to get a crime number. 3 weeks after 2 PCSO’s turned up to reassure us they were stepping up a preseence in the area. Not seen them since, this happened in April.
These mindless thieves could go around carrying the copper in broad daylight with a sign saying just nicked from the crem and still Wednesfield Policewouldn’t catch them!
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Mr Jones I beg to differ breaking the law is breaking the law.
example gatso camera flashes 60 pound fine drops on the door why beecause you exceeded the speed limit and “BROKE THE LAW”.
Example child in the front of the car with no seat belt on I would expect to be fined because the law states the must be a certain age to be in the front and wear a seat belt (both of which have no “victim” attatched
There does not have to be a victim for something to be a crime.
Obviously you have no respect for the police as you have stated in your comment.
do not blame the police for home office policies the police uphold the law they dont make the law.
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Those people are just sick to steel metal espically from a cememtry just describes the people who did it in one go whats worng with them going and looking to get a proper job instead of pinching metal and copper from a crematorium
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The police are not the criminals here, I would like to think that the thieves need the services of the East Chapel themselves soon but to be blunt burning is too good for them
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Baggieboy exceeding the speed limit and not wearing a seatbelt is not breaking the law. It is not consenting to the road traffic act. Why do you think it is called an act?
You obviously have an extremely limited knowledge of what law actually is.
A victimless crime is a total waste of time and money.
If the police officers were not working as revenue collections agents too, they would get more respect.
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Well said MrJones. Baggieboy is obviously a jobsworth do gooder who is unable to think for himself. The law is there to protect the public, not to raise as much revenue as possible from victimless crimes!
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14..I am far from a do gooder infact extremley far but I will not go into that lets just say I have seen the error of my ways and yes I can think for myself are we going to get into a name calling argument…… I agree the law is to protect the public but please read my post THE POLICE DO NOT MAKE THE LAWS!!!!. If you dont like what they do then write to the police commission.
Mr Jones I think you and I both know what I was trying to say perhaps my examples where not up to your high interlectual standard for which please except my apologies.
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This is taking a swerve from the topic in question, but why isn’t it breaking the law by not wearing a seatbelt and speeding (it should be) but it is against the law to chuck a fag-end out of your car window or put personal mail in a public waste-bin (litter)? Victimless crimes again – but they still incur fines and you’re presumed guilty.
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MrJones you do make some excellent points and my thought process seems to be swaying slightly. Oh well, maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.
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17… very funny pity it aint me posting . OOHH how you must have laughed when you posted that idiot
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Val exceeding the speed limit or not wearing a seatbelt, these are requirements of the road traffic ACT! Please note this is an ACT! An ACT is a statute and a statute requires the consent of the Governed to carry the FORCE of law.
If someone is driving dangerously and likely to cause harm or injury due to their actions, then of course they need to be stopped and dealt with.
If someone is not wearing a seatbelt or driving their vehicle at 90mph on an empty stretch of motorway, where is the victim? Innocent drivers are stopped for these reasons simply to raise revenue by fines, something I cannot and never will accept.
BaggieBoy glad you can understand where I’m coming from! Finally! :o)
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