Metal theft threat to Ecclesiastical

The rising number of metal theft claims has put 2010 on course to be the second worst year for metal theft on record.

According to niche and faith insurance specialist Ecclesiastical, during the first five months of 2010 the company received a total of 722 theft of metal claims worth more than £1.6m.

Although lead stolen from churches still makes up the majority of theft of metal claims, a significant increase is now emerging in non-faith claims.

With nearly 20% of the total metal theft claims now being recorded for non-faith customers - such as schools, heritage buildings and other commercial properties - the insurer is warning that a number of sectors will need to improve their security measures to fight the epidemic.

The highest number of metal theft claims was recorded in 2008 when, during the first five months of the year, 1,382 claims worth more than £4.2m were received by Ecclesiastical.

Commenting on the figures and the spread of the theft epidemic, David Bonehill, cllaims and risk services director at Ecclesiastical, said: “This is clearly a very worrying trend. Based on what we are seeing, around four theft of metal incidents take place every day among our customers and this is four incidents too many.

“We see no sign of claims reducing and if this trend continues, 2010 could be the second highest year on record for metal theft.

“There is a direct correlation between the value of these metals on world markets and the number of claims received. This year, metal prices have risen sharply due to the impact of demand driven by a number of earthquakes and other natural disasters that have had an effect on the world economy. That’s triggered a sharp increase in metal thefts in the UK as thieves target churches, schools and other commercial and residential properties.

“Insurance isn’t the only industry battling with the issue however. This is a huge issue facing the whole of the UK with utilities and transport sectors having been hit as hard by this crime and needing to take measures to protect their property and services. Ecclesiastical is very closely involved in the work of various cross-industry groups and organisations tackling the issue on a higher strategic and national level.”

In addition to urging its customers to continue to use the forensic SmartWater solution to protect roofing lead and other valuables, Ecclesiastical is also piloting an external roof alarm scheme with a number of its church customers. Several churches suffering from repeated lead thefts have had the alarms fitted during the pilot phase, resulting in no subsequent thefts once the alarms were introduced.

In February this year, Ecclesiastical announced that over the last five years, theft of metal from UK churches has cost over £20m in insurance claims.