Protect your property
While the theft of metals is not a direct threat to most private properties, you may want to take a few precautions if you feel your property is particularly vulnerable. The advise below is particularly relevant for business or organisations that have responsibilities over vulnerable sites.
The theft of metals from your property could cost you or your organisation thousands of pounds to replace and repair.
Taking the following simple steps could dramatically reduce the vulnerability of your property:
- Always ensure that ladders, wheelbarrows, wheelie bins and any other means of transporting stolen goods are locked away when not in use.
- Ensure drainpipes and other features don’t allow easy access onto roofs.
- Consider the use of anti-climb paint to vulnerable drainpipes and roof guttering. Anti-climb paint is very sticky and is difficult to remove from hands or clothing. Please note, Anti-climb paint should only be used over a height of 2 metres and a warning notice should be put up indicating that anti-climb paint has been applied.
- Consider improving the method of fixing metal materials, particularly on roofs. For example, hollow rolls of lead with copper clips are harder to take apart than other fixings.
- Introduce security lighting, particularly in vulnerable areas, and ensure that regular checks are carried out to ensure that it is working properly.
- Restrict vehicular access to your site and buildings to prevent burglars from having an easy getaway.
- Install intruder alarm protection of external roof areas using
- appropriate infra-red beam detectors, preferably with an automatic transmission of alarm signals to a 24-hour manned alarm receiving centre.
- In vulnerable areas, consider the use of substitute materials, for instance non lead based flashing.
- If you feel your site or buildings are particularly vulnerable, please contact Greater Manchester Police Crime Reduction Advisors on 0161 856 5254.
This page was last updated on 4 October 2009
