In the weeks before Christmas thieves targeted Curry Rivel, stealing quantities of roofing lead throughout the village.  Similar thefts have also been reported in Langport, Huish Episcopi, Long Sutton, Somerton and Martock.  So far Avon & Somerset Police have failed to make any arrests in connection with these thefts. 

Following thefts of lead from houses in Wiltown earlier in the year, the thieves returned to the village in the week before Christmas.  Lead was stolen from the Sewers Hall and the school, as well from at least three private houses and a garden.  Cllr Derek Yeomans, Chairman of the Sewers Hall Committee said “It is now going to cost us to replace the village hall roof and we have to hope that it will not rain too hard.  It is hugely expensive and something like the hall is vital to our community.”   

The new roof at the rear of the school near Osmand’s Garage was also stolen.  A School Governor said “The thieves must have seen the new lead being fitted, as that roof is not visible from the main road.”  And then not satisfied with stealing the new lead, the thieves returned the following week to steal the old roof that had been replaced. 

An outside garden shed in Wiltown had its lead stolen for the second time within five months.  The thieves then targeted three houses in the High Street, one of them the home of Cllr Derek Yeomans, but they dumped the roof of his porch in his garden when they realised it was zinc and not lead.  John Watson-Baker was woken by noises at about 3 am one night.  He recalled “I shone my torch onto the roof of the porch, but I couldn’t see anyone there.  So I went downstairs and made a noise, but I think by that time they had fled … I suppose about 30 square feet of lead was stolen.” 

The thieves appear to be targeting porches and bay windows which are easy to reach by ladder, usually beside a main road, during the hours from midnight until about 6 am.  Cllr Derek Yeomans again “The audacity of these thieves to steal from places on main roads shows that they are very confident that they can get away with this.  I am not happy and it does not seem that much has been done by the police to catch these people.” 

Despite extensive enquiries amongst local scrap yard merchants, the police have yet to arrest any of these thieves, who appear to be able to steal what they want, when they want it.  Anyone with information on these thefts should contact PC Stewart Brand on 08454 567000, or, if you see a theft in progress, dial 999.  A physical description of the thieves and any details of their vehicle, including its registration number, will be vital in any subsequent investigation by the police.

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