Thieves target lead, copper and aluminium

THIEVES have turned their attention to stealing lead, aluminium and copper, according to a commercial security company.

Netwatch, a Carlow-based firm, claimed it had seen a 60% increase in the number of attempted attacks on property where gangs specifically look to strip electrical wiring or remove lead from roofs or copper fittings.

Earlier this month, police in the north arrested and charged four men in Portadown over alleged copper theft, while in Limerick this week gardaí are investigating the theft of more than 150 metres of Eircom cabling from poles in the Ballysheedy area.