Lead stripped from homes

A lack of street lighting in Bingham has been blamed for attracting thieves who stripped lead from the fronts of at least six homes in one night.

The thefts on Langdale Grove and Wychwood Road took place in the early hours of Monday.

Street lights in Bingham are switched off between midnight and 5am as part of a Nottinghamshire County Council scheme that has been the subject of recent debate.

Mrs Gail Myers, of Langdale Grove, said it was possible the darkness that blanketed Bingham at night was appealing to thieves.

“It has become well known that Bingham does not have any street lights at night,” she said.

“You can’t see anything — it is pitch black.

“On New Year’s Eve I went to a friend’s house four doors away and had to take a torch with me just to get back home.”

One of the residents to have lead ripped from the top of his front window was Mr Mark Handfield, 68.

“To have something stolen from the outside of your home is not as bad as being burgled but it still makes you angry,” he said.

“We didn’t hear anything but our neighbour woke when her dog started to bark.

“We found footprints in the snow and lines where they must have dragged a ladder.

“I know there are not a lot of jobs around at the moment but if these people just got a nine to five job and did a decent day’s work, they would probably earn a lot more.”

Mr Handfield said he believed the value of the metal they took from each house was around £10. He was planning to cover the top of the window with felt.

Mr John Strange, of Jfs Builders, Bingham, also of Langdale Grove, believed the cost of the damage, including labour, would be around £350.

“I have never come across anything like this in 30 years of working,” he said.

“I know lead is taken from churches but I have never heard of a case when it has been taken from a house.”

Two men were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of theft.

Lead was recovered and is being forensically examined.

Mr Richard Jackson, the county council’s cabinet member for transport and highways, said: “There is a great deal of metal theft occurring throughout the county in both lit and unlit areas and, as the theft of a cash machine in a well-lit part of Bingham this week shows, lighting isn’t necessarily a deterrent to such activity.

“However, we are taking a flexible approach to the part-night lighting scheme and are prepared to respond to any issues and make changes if it is justified.”