Thieves Steal Lead From Hampshire Station
18 August 2011, 11:12 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
British Transport Police detectives are appealing for information after thieves stole lead from the roof of Rowland’s Castle train station.
As part of the investigation, police have released CCTV images of two men they want to identify and talk to in connection with it.
Overnight between Thursday, 26 and Friday, 27 May, thieves stole lead from the roof of the station while it was being renovated.
CCTV showed two men removing the lead from the roof before returning in a car and taking it away.
Detective Constable Tony Bronger said: “We’ve followed numerous avenues of enquiry to try and get names for this pair, including circulating their images on police intelligence systems and databases, but to no avail so far.
The CCTV images are very good and I am confident someone will recognise them. The car they used to take the lead from the station was either a Citroen Saxo or a Peugeot 106 and had low-profile alloys wheels. If you recognise either of the men, we’d like to hear from you.”
DC Bronger added that additional measures have been put in place across the county to tackle metal theft:
“We’ve increased our patrols, both during the day and at night, to catch and deter metal thieves in Hampshire and work closely with Hampshire Constabulary to gather intelligence on suspects.
Officers also conduct regular visits to scrap metal dealers to check any metal or cable which may have been sold by the thieves for profit.
What thieves don’t realise is just how little they make. Is it worth risking serious injury or death by accessing the rail line, or in this case a station roof, for a small amount of money in your pocket?”
Lisa Basham, South West Trains' Area Manager for Portsmouth, said: "The actions of these thieves created inconvenience for our passengers and we are determined to collaborate fully with British Transport Police to find the people responsible and bring them to justice."
Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference B3/LSA of 17/08/2011.
Network Rail, working in partnership with the independent charity Crimestoppers, is offering a reward of up to £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any cable thieves. Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
