Theft of Metal from Church Roofs: Prevention and Response

This advice note is intended to offer clarity to congregations responding to the sharp rise in the number, severity and geographical spread of metal thefts from church roofs since publication of our previous metal theft advice note in 2017.

It sets out actions you can take to reduce the likelihood and impact of metal theft. These include knowing your building, understanding the main heritage crime risks that affect your area, undertaking a combination of measures to prevent theft, and being aware of the specific security measures required by your insurer to guarantee that you are covered in the event of metal theft.

When a theft has taken place, it can be difficult to know how to respond. This advice note sets out how to report a crime and what to do in the immediate aftermath to ensure that no further damage or loss to your building is sustained due to the theft of roof metal.

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Preventing theft
  3. Dealing with theft
  4. Help the police get a conviction

This note forms part of a package of materials published by Historic England and written to help congregations dealing with metal theft or the risk of metal theft.

Additional Information

  • Series: Guidance
  • Publication Status: Completed
  • Pages: 22
  • Product Code: HEAG306

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