Repeat offender’s jailing stops Sutton council’s claims
Sutton Council has revealed it made nearly £150,000 in insurance claims for lead roofs stolen by Tom Berge, 28, from Wallington, who used Google maps to locate school as targets, the Sutton Guardian reports.
Berge was jailed in April for 12 months, his second prosecution in six months. He caused damage to St Philomena’s Catholic School for Girls worth £36,070.
Councillor John Drage, executive member for resources on Sutton Council, said: “There was a spate of lead thefts across the borough in 2007 and 2008, and local schools were affected.
No claims since jailing
“The police have caught and successfully prosecuted a repeat offender twice in the past six months for stealing lead, including from a number of our schools, as well as listed buildings and churches.
“As a result of the insurance claims all affected schools have repaired their buildings with non-lead materials to deter thieves.
“We have not received any claims from local schools for lead theft in the current financial year.”
The council spent a total of £1.6m in insurance claims across the borough in the last financial year.
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