Metal, cabling and lead thefts

Advice to reduce the risk

The theft of metal disrupts the lives of thousands of people, including householders, commuters and businesses.

At Kent Police we are determined to do all within our power to target thieves, regularly carrying out warrants, visiting scrap metal dealers, carrying out multi-agency road checkss and targeting associated criminal networks.

Protect your home

Metal theft To reduce the risk of your home being targeted, please consider the following crime prevention measures:

secure garden items (water butts, waste bins and furniture) away from your property so they can’t be used to access roofs and porches
store ladders and tools in a secure place
keep gates locked and restrict vehicle access to your property
make it difficult for thieves to move goods - remove wheelbarrows and wheelie bins
maximise visibility around your property by keeping landscaping well pruned
check your roof regularly – if roofing materials have been stolen, early detection may enable you to replace them before it rains and any further damage is caused to your property
encourage neighbours to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity
photograph and security mark valuable metal items
consider installing security lighting and CCTV

Protect your business

Make your premises secure using gates, fencing and locks. Regularly check there are no breaches to your premises.
Install lighting and CCTV to help deter would-be thieves, and check it regularly to make sure it's still working. Check with your local authority to see if permission is required.
Don't leave any scrap materials lying around to tempt thieves.
Don't leave tools or machinery accessible, which could be used by thieves to gain access to your building/premises.
Lead can be coated in anti-climb paint, which marks clothes and skin, often helping the police to identify offenders.
Where it is safe to do so, encourage your staff to challenge anyone they don't recognise on the premises.
Consider using alternative materials to lead when making repairs. Consider:

coating lead flashing and drain pipes in anti-climb paint, which is non-drying and marks clothes and skin to help identify offenders. It should only be applied above 2.4 m from the ground and must be clearly signposted to comply with the Occupiers Liability Act 1984
coating lead in silver paint, which devalues the metal and makes it less likely to be stolen
using coloured lead, which will allow flashing to blend in with the rest of the building, making it more difficult to identify
using a forensic solution, such as SmartWater, SelectaDNA, RedWeb or Crimestoppers products to security mark your property

Protect your vehicle

Catalytic converters

Most petrol vehicles made since 1992 are fitted with catalytic converters which often contain small amounts of precious metals, making them a target for metal thieves.

Reduce the risk of your catalytic converter being stolen:

Keep your vehicle in a garage whenever possible, or park in busy, well-lit areas.
Look out for people working under cars who are acting suspiciously.
Fit a catalytic converter clamp or security cage to protect your catalytic converter.
Security mark and register the metal shell of the converter so if it stolen and recovered, it will be easier to trace it back to your vehicle.

Read more details on protecting your property.

Protect your community

Public buildings

Keep an eye on public buildings which have lead roofing, for example places of worship and schools, particularly out of hours and during school holidays when the buildings are likely to be empty.

Metal statues and plaques

The theft of statues and plaques, made of bronze, copper or other metal, has been in the news recently.

The War Memorials Trust has launched a project, called In Memorium 2014, aimed at helping to protect these statues using a forensic marking solution. Anyone interested in finding out more should visit the project's website.

Help deter thieves

Help deter thieves and encourage local people to be vigilant - download a lead theft poster (202kb) and metal theft leaflet (748kb) to put up on local public noticeboards.

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