Thieves steal copper piping from homes in Leicester

Residents are being warned to be vigilant following a spate of thefts of copper pipes in part of Leicester.

During the last three months there have been 17 cases where thieves cut and stole them from outside homes in the Hinckley Road area.

A police spokesman said it compared with only three incidents in the same period last year.

Sgt Simon Barnes, of Leicestershire Police, described the thieves as reckless.

"The cost of scrap metal is soaring at the moment, and this has resulted in a local increase in the number of thefts of copper piping", he said.

"This is a dangerous situation as thieves recklessly cut pipework, and don't bother about the risks of flooding from water pipes, or explosion in the case of copper gas pipes.