A SPATE of almost 100 lead thefts has hit Dorset in the past seven months – costing businesses and community groups thousands of pounds.

Shocking new figures released by Dorset Police show around 15 lead thefts a month are taking place across the county, with the new crimewave sparked by the rocketing price of lead and copper on the black market.

The figures are released as it is revealed roofer Ian Cox is struggling to keep his business afloat after thieves broke into his workshop in Dorchester and made off with £8,000-worth of metal.

Mr Cox said: “They took all my copper for a big job to restore Fordingbridge clock tower steeple, plus copper from another job, zinc and lead – basically all my stock.

“They’ve probably cost me about £8,000.

“It’s made my life really, really difficult.

“Obviously my cash flow has been affected because I still had to finish the jobs and I’m struggling to keep the business afloat now to be brutally honest.

“I’m covered by insurance but it takes a while to pay out.”

He added: “They broke in to my workshop. They came in through the window and had the locks off inside and outside.

“They obviously backed a vehicle in so people wouldn’t see what was going on because the copper was a half-tonne roll.

“It definitely would’ve taken some effort to move it, it’s not the sort of thing you could move on your own.”

The stolen copper had come from the Fordingbridge clock tower steeple in Hampshire, which was being repaired in Mr Cox’s workshop.

Fordingbridge Mayor Malcolm Connolly said: “I am disappointed that people do these dastardly deeds but it is something we have to live with and move on from.

“The thieves broke into the workshop and stole every piece of metal they could get their hands on.”

Coun Connolly congratulated the contractors for their swift work and said he was ‘delighted’ that the completion of the project could be back on track so quickly.

Dorset Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward, saying no arrests have yet been made on the raid on Ian Cox Roofing Limited, which happened between 6.30pm on Wednesday, March 23, and 8.30am on March 24.

Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester Police said: “Lead is a valuable commodity, everybody needs to put precautions and preventions in place to look after it. I would like people to consider using alternative materials where appropriate. I’m aware of lead thefts from churches, schools, house roofs and porches, as a result of the consistently high or increasing price of lead.”

Anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 01305 222222.