Paving slabs and walls top wish lists of thieves targeting historical sites
Thefts of historic stone as well as cultural objects from museums, art galleries and stately homes are on the rise, according to a report.
Stone thefts rose by 9 per cent in 2022, with reports of offenders disguising themselves by wearing highvis jackets and stealing York stone slabs from the grounds of historic properties and church paths.
Particular targets are walls and paving slabs in Yorkshire and Cheshire, as well as granite cattle troughs and fountains from Kent and London.
Also at risk are cultural objects such as artwork and antiques, which have been stolen from galleries, museums and stately homes.
The report by Historic England and the National Police Chiefs’ Council
(NPCC) said organised crime gangs plot burglaries from the sites, with cultural property worth £3.2m stolen in 2021-22.
Antisocial behaviour including arson, vandalism and graffiti is also said to be a significant threat.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “Heritage and cultural property crime robs us of our collective history.
“This research marks the next stage in our commitment to tackle such crime.
“More effective crime recording across all police forces in the UK, including a heritage marker to highlight protected sites and cultural property crime, would help us to understand trends better and to tackle serious organised crime and antisocial behaviour.”
Vernon Rapley, director of security at the Victoria and Albert Museum, said: “This assessment reminds us that cultural heritage transcends time and generations.
“In the face of the many risks highlighted in this report, we must act quickly and decisively to safeguard our museums, galleries and heritage sites for the enjoyment and education of future generations.”
The theft of valuable metals, mainly lead, from church roofs – which increased by 41 per cent during the Covid pandemic lockdowns – has fallen, with the crime dropping by 26.2 per cent between January and November 2023 compared with the same period in 2022, amid tightened security.
Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan, NPCC lead for heritage crime, said: “When metal, stone or other items are stolen from our historic buildings and cultural sites, it impacts the communities who enjoy those spaces.”
So-called night-hawking – illegal metal detecting on historic sites – dropped by 9.3 per cent between February 2020 and February 2023.