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Fury as metal thieves target war memorial
Monday 8th March 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
The roof of a landmark war memorial has been stripped by metal thieves in an attack branded “gutting and inexplicable”.
The war memorial in Barr Beacon park, Great Barr, was open to the elements today after thieves climbed up 50ft to strip away copper from the roof. It is not yet clear how much it is likely to cost to repair. Ward councillor Chris Towe and deputy leader of Walsall Council, Adrian Andrew, visited the memorial on Beacon Road to inspect the damage.
Councillor Towe said: “I think these people are the lowest of the low to attack such a precious monument.
“It is deeply distressing and very frustrating for the people of Walsall, because this signifies so much to the area. This is not just a meaningless memorial, it represents people who have given the ultimate sacrifice to us by putting their lives on the line. It is very, very upsetting.”
He warned scrap merchants: “If people come forward and start trying to sell people this then they must report it to the police immediately.
“We as a borough, will not stand up and take this because all too often these people steal things and then try and get away with it.
“If people come and ask you to buy it, do not. Make sure you call the police straight away.”
Councillor Adrian Andrew said: “We want to make sure that these people are caught and punished through the courts.”
Council leader Councillor Mike Bird said: “These people are lower than sewer rats. I would suggest that when they’re caught, we ship them out to Afghanistan and put them on the frontline in Helmand.
“Maybe then they would appreciate why we honour those who fight for this country and reflect on what they have done.” The attack is thought to have happened on Friday night.
Elsewhere £50,000 repairs were needed at the Grade II listed Red House building in Red House Park, Great Barr, after lead and tiles were taken two years ago.
A 6ft barrier was installed at the back of the house in December after reports of anti-social behaviour and vandalism. Walsall Cou0ncil chiefs today said round-the-clock patrols would now be launched to prevent similar raids at the war memorial.
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Nothing is sacred anymore.No difference between the Third World and the West Midlands.
Anything that has a value “walks”.
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what would happen if this scum were caught a smack on the wrist someone will buy the scrap metal they are as bad as the thieves
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This is an utter disgrace and disrespect to all our fallen soldiers, when they are caught they should be sent to afghanistan or jailed for over 10 years, and the same goes for the scrap dealer who handles the stolen metal.
On the other hand if the council left the park open 24 hrs a day this probably would not have happened as there is always some one on the beacon.
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While I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments Carl, would you want to be a squaddy dependent on this scum in a war zone ? The only way to deal with this is through tough sentencing, but with our weak kneed, PC court system we can expect littlee to be done.
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I wouldn’t want to be a squaddy anywhere near this scum, let’s just drop them off in Hellmand and let them fend for themselves.
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Sam sop being such a reactionist and try being a realist!
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This is what happens when there is mass unemployment. People need money to feed their families, jobs are getting harder and harder to come by, the rich poor divide is ever increasing, any of you would do the same if it meant feeding your children or letting them go hungry.
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I bet that the people who did this are NOT good family people in need, but absolute scum.
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rhubarb! There is never any need to desecrate a monument to the dead. Get a grip.
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I’m sorry, have did I miss them getting rid of the benefit system? People might not have allot of money on the system but they should certainly not be starving. Perhaps a journey to countries that are less generous with their benefit system – that being every other country in the world – might give you an insight into real hardship. Or read Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, it’ll give you a flavour of really tough times
Trouble is people born in this country don’t appreciate true hardship (the immigrants do, which is why they are so keen to get here). Or the history of why we have such an excellent system (in principle) It was hardships faced by returning soldiers that forced the government to give greater attention to the less fortunate in society. The very figure of which these low life’s attacked
I suggest you actually think for yourself rather than repeat an anti Thatcher student argument that was ‘cool’ in the 80′s
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The benefit system is a joke, designed to keep the poor poor. People think slavery has been abolished but it still goes on even today, people just cannot see it, those of us working 12 hour shifts simply to make ends meet, that cannot be described as working to live but living to work. In this day of medical advancement we have not added any life to years but only years to life.
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perry this has nothing to do with feeding your family thats what we have social security for. do you know when you dont work in this country you get your rent paid. council tax paid and so on. there,s plenty of tat to be collected round peoples homes because were such a throw away society. this is just vandalismn at its worst on a war memorial, the brave men that died to make this country a better place must be turning in their graves..
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Perry nice to see their is at least 1 realist, online E & S reader. The other online readers are obviously living in some drugged up dream fantasy world where they are unable to see the bigger picture.
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What a cretin you are BaggirsRoy ( No football today to keep you occupied). What on Earth gives you the impression that any comment made here is “drugged up”? If a scale were drawn on “realism” I am afraid you would be at the lowest end of it.
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If we are being realistic, lets stop pretending anyone starving, or trying to feed thier family are likely to have done this, it’s plain theft, Sadly, etting something for nothing is acepted as a way of life by some. If the benefits system was handing out food vouchers instead of paying the hard wages of tax payers money into the bank accounts of people, some of who cant be bothered to try to earn a living, this might be half way understandable, but no they get money, crises loans, free rent and council tax, free school meals , dental treatment, specatles,travel warrents and a host of other bebefits, most claiments manage to smoke, run a car, go to bingo and are no worse off than the rest of us. I hope they are charged with war crime, serve em right.
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Sandy you are not being realistic. You make out like no-one is struggling in this country, life’s a big picnic for all of us but anyone with a shred of common sense knows you are way off the mark.
The benefits system is a joke, no genuine training available to get benefit claimants into a genuine job with half decent pay.
Do you have any evidence to support your claim that “most claimants manage to smoke, run a car, go to bingo and are no worse off than the rest of us” or is this statement as I suspect your personal unrealistic opinion?
Are you aware of the number of homeless in this country? I would like to see all these know-all’s who claim life to be luxury on benefits to actually try living on benefits, then maybe they will get a long hard dose of reality.
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