Thieves have stripped lead from the roof of a school in Weston-super-Mare six times in the past month.
The stolen lead has been marked with high-tech SmartWater and now police are contacting scrap yard owners across the region in case they are offered the lead. SmartWater contains a unique forensic code, which can be seen under fluorescent light.
A police spokesman said: “We have contacted scrap yards throughout the area and as far afield as Glastonbury and Bath and North East Somerset, advising them that the lead is marked with SmartWater and that they should contact the police if anyone approaches them with what appears to be lead sheeting or roofing. The lead that has been taken from the school roof has been replaced with a new no-lead substitute which has no monetary value.”
Raiders broke into Priory School, Worle, in a series of late-night break-ins during the final few days of term and the start of the summer holidays. They forced their way through a security fence and climbed on top of the building, stealing lead from the roof. The thieves did not get into the school buildings.
Police are now appealing to people who live near the school at Queen’s Way to act as their eyes and ears and report anything suspicious. The spokesman added: “We are urging any people who live or work near to Priory School, who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously around the premises, either late at night or early in the morning to contact us.”
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