Lead Stolen From Registry Office Roof

27 April 2011, 09:46 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police are appealing for information after lead was stolen from the roof of Portsmouth Registry Office.

The metal was taken sometime between 5am and 9.10am, Saturday, April 9, from Milldam House on Burnaby Road.

A number of men arrived on bicycles early on, climbed up onto the roof, stripped it of lead, threw it to the ground and then hid it in bushes.

Later, a silver Fiat Punto pulled up where the lead was hidden and drove off with the majority of it.

PC Dave Freeman from the Charles Dickens Safer Neighbourhoods team said:  “It’s thought the thieves got away with a relatively small amount of lead but the damage caused runs to approximately £8,000.

“Metal theft has been identified as a national trend in recent years which costs businesses millions of pounds.

“The building targeted in this instance is a listed public building and the lead is used as weatherproofing. Ultimately it will be the taxpayer who foots the bill to repair it.

“If you know who’s responsible, or saw what happened, you can contact police in confidence.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Freeman at Portsmouth Central police station on 101 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.