News - Man and woman arrested over Newstead Abbey lead theft

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of stealing lead from the roof of Nottinghamshire's Newstead Abbey.

Lead was stolen from the roof of the Grade I listed building between 17:00 GMT on 5 December and 08:30 GMT on 6 December, police said.

The man and woman, both aged 23, were arrested after lead was found in a back garden in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

The lead, believed to be worth about £2,000, was also found in a car.

Nottinghamshire Police added that during an assessment by officers at a Mansfield scrap yard, more lead from the Abbey was located.

Newstead Abbey was the ancestral home of poet Lord Byron and was founded by Henry II as an Augustinian priory in the 12th Century.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-16226473

Thieves Use Google Earth to Target Churches

It has been reported that thieves are using Google Earth to target churches to enable them to steal lead.  With the value of lead now worth nearly three times the value it was in 2008 organised gangs are using satellite images to find churches with the largest amounts of lead on their roofs.

Over eight thousand churches have made claims with insurance companies for over £23 million in the past three years according to the Church of England.  Most churches which are listed have to replace the original lead which has meant many are targeted more than once and several churches in our area have been affected.

If you see anyone around a church or on a church roof acting suspiciously please phone the police immediately.

For the full article please go to: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B155C20101202