Churches are among the buildings being targeted in a spate of lead thefts from roofs in Harpenden.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has so far reported seven thefts of lead, three of which are being classed as heritage crimes after churches were targeted.

Details are as follows:

  • Between midday on Thursday, June 26 and 8am on Friday, June 27 and between 5pm on Sunday, June 29 and 8am on Monday, June 30 respectively, lead was stolen from the roof of the United Reform Church, in Vaughan Road. The crime numbers are F2/14/906 and F2/14/923.
  • Between July 10 and July 17, lead was stolen from the roof of Harpenden Methodist Church, in the High Street.
  • Between June 11 and July 10, lead was stolen from the roof of Sainsbury’s in Bowers Parade. The crime number is F2/14/985.
  • On Sunday, July 6 between 2.50am and 3.10am lead was stolen from the roof of Harpenden Interiors, in High Street. The crime number is F2/14/1046.
  • Between July 10 and July 17, lead was stolen from the roof of Auriga, in Thompson Close, Harpenden. The crime number is F2/14/1015.
  • Between Sunday, July 6 and Friday, July 18, lead was stolen from the roof of Legends Hair and Beauty Salon, in the High Street. The crime number is F2/14/1047.

Police constable Tom Fisher said: "There has been a recent spate of the thefts of lead from buildings and we are currently following a line of enquiry that these incidents are linked.

"To tackle these incidents we are stepping up patrols in the area. I am also appealing to anyone who was in the area of where these crimes took place and witnessed anyone acting suspiciously to please get in touch as soon as possible."

He added: "To make lead on the roofs of buildings more secure and less appealing to thieves, I would recommend that owners consider crime prevention methods such as spray painting the postcode of the property onto the lead, using anti climb paint or purchasing sensor alarms that alert owner’s mobiles when movement is detected on the rooftops, such as the alarms available on the following website www.alarmsforfarms.com/church-roof-protection."