Robbers cut through for treasure.
Robbing ain’t what it used to be. In the good old days, burglars were content to nicks the contents of a building. Then, they moved on to the lead in the church roofs – much to the chargrin of church insurer Ecclesiastical.
And now, according to Norwich Union, they’ve turned their nefarious gaze on other historic buildings.
Last year, police reported that metal thefts had increased by 170% in some regions, claiming that in certain instances thieves had cut through live electricity and gas mains to steal metal, according to a press release from the insurer.
Allister Smith, property risk manager at Norwich Union, said: “While empty buildings face an increased threat given the high levels of unoccupancy, historic buildings are also vulnerable as they often incorporate considerable amounts of lead or copper roofing.”
