Surelock

Gargoyles are the traditional guardians of the building on which they are placed and it is hoped the unusual image will be a powerful reminder to thieves that they are being watched by unseen eyes.  A campaign called “Church Watch” that was launched at Manchester Cathedral following a theft of lead in August 2008 uses “Griff” to spread the word about proactively protecting church buildings.  The campaign, organised by the Manchester Diocese of the Church of England, uses a three step approach to combat theft;-

PREVENT: Use Smartwater to mark roof lead and other valuable metals.  To stop future  insurance claims possibly being reduced by 50% you should  register your use of SmartWater and if any building work involves scaffolding with your insurance company.

Remove items that aid climbing or lead removal such as wheelie bins and ladders. Lock gates and prevent access to cars and vans. Cut hedges and trees (check if planning permission is needed). Use anti climb paint on down spouts and lightning conductors (consult your architect).

Consider CCTV and/or installing an intruder alarm system.

WATCH: There are two aspects to this ‘Watch’ section; 1. Church Watch, and 2.Diocesan Metal Theft Alerts. Get these elements right and you could well catch the thieves or deter them.  Details are on the website, whose link is provided below.

REPORT: If you suffer lead theft then it is important that you report the crime and evaluate your prevention and watching helpers. The DAC will advise on a suitable replacement material which will be less attractive to thieves. English Heritage and the Chancellor are working together to provide effective planning exemptions.

Full information is available on http://www.beatmetaltheft.org

Although commodity prices have fallen dramatically since the onset of the credit crunch, the theft of metals is still prevalent and it is not surprising that our isolated buildings such as churches and those on utility sites are among those most frequently targeted by thieves. This is not a new problem but recently its prevalence has increased to such an extent that some insurers have actively campaigned to encourage their clients to improve security and the Home Office is piloting a new national crime unit to clampdown on rogue scrap metal dealers who are illegally handling stolen metals. Rainwater goods, lightning conductors, communication cables, inspection covers, fittings and even garden statutes in private gardens are all at risk unless preventative measures are taken. These can take many forms including perimeter protection, anti-scaling devices, electronic measures, property marking and, where possible, replacement of items with less valuable or easily removed materials.

We at Surelock would recommend that a security survey or assessment is carried out of your premises by one of our skilled surveyors who will identify any vulnerabilities and advise on ways in which these can be addressed. The theft of metal roof coverings with particular respect to churches and other historic buildings is well covered in an advice note issued by English Heritage.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/Advice_Note_on_Theft_of_Metal_Roof_Coverings_5__JS_.pdf