Shropshire churches fight back against metal thefts

A campaign to protect churches in Shropshire from the scourge of metal thieves has been launched.

Hands Off Our Church Roofs is a scheme which will see sophisticated electronic alarms put on the roofs of the most at-risk Anglican churches across the country.

Crime-busting technology from Shropshire firm SmartWater is also being used to trace thieves who steal metal from churches.

Churches across Shropshire have been targeted by metal thieves.

Last year, the roof at Holy Trinity Church in Coalbrookdale started leaking after thieves stole about £5,000 of lead from the roof, and the historic Tong church near Shifnal has been forced to install cameras to deter thieves.

The latest campaign has been launched by church and heritage insurer Ecclesiastical, which is investing £500,000 to install roof alarms free on the most badly-affected churches.

It is also calling on communities to work together to raise the money to protect other church buildings.

The firm has provided churches with free SmartWater forensic marker liquid, which permanently 'marks' anyone handling items coated with it.

John Coates, Ecclesiastical's director of church insurance, said: "Every night seven churches across the UK are targeted by criminals, who see them as easy pickings.

"Our Hands Off Our Church Roofs campaign will ensure they won't be easy anymore.

"Because we won't be revealing the details of these churches, this will create a deterrent as all churches in the area will display signage.

"Stage two – and this is where we are seeking broad public support – is for other churches to purchase their own alarm systems. In some cases this is going to require fundraising.

"Britain's churches are woven into the fabric of our national life and our heritage. For some churches, it's a case of picking up the pieces and trying to move on; for others it can be a death blow."

See also:

• Leader: Despicable metal thefts must be stopped

• Shropshire metal theft costs top £500,000

• Shropshire police in metal thefts crackdown