Crooks have all but given up on stealing metal from Lincolnshire residents after prices on the world commodity markets dropped dramatically.
Churches, house roofs and copper piping from properties have been ransacked at the rate of three times a day for most of the last two years – but have fallen by 76 per cent in 2009.
In one of the most startling incidents last year, thieves wrecked the newly refurbished Angel pub on Canwick Road in Lincoln by ripping up all of the electricity, gas and water pipes.
But as prices have nose-dived, partly as a result of the credit crunch, thieves have turned away from stripping roofs and homes to focus on other crimes.
At its peak in November 2007, there were 161 metal thefts in Lincolnshire – more than the amount recorded in the last six months.
Dick Holmes, spokesman for Lincolnshire Police, said: "If the trend for the first four months of 2009 continues this type of crime will have been cut by 70 per cent to 80 per cent this year."
