Appeal after £250k-worth of damage caused to military cemetery building

Staffordshire Police is appealing for information after thieves made off with a large amount of copper from a Grade-II listed building within a military cemetery.

Officers attended the war cemetery on Camp Road, in Cannock Chase, after staff reported that all of the copper had been taken from the roof of a building which forms the centre of the war memorial.

It is believed the theft took place sometime between 11pm on Sunday 13 March and Monday morning, by a group of offenders wearing all-black clothing, masks and gloves.

They departed the scene in a white transit-style van which was parked nearby.

Officers are continuing to review CCTV footage of the area at the time of the theft and urge anyone who may have any information to get in touch.

PC William O’Boyle said: “This is a despicable theft and damage to a property from a cemetery site built to honour the lives lost in both World Wars.

“The removal of the copper has caused extensive damage to the listed building and will cost a considerable amount of money and time to repair.

“I would urge anyone, particularly scrap metal dealers in the wider area, along with anyone in the Cannock Chase area on Sunday night to get in touch with us if they have encountered any suspicious behaviour or materials.

“If you saw a white van in the Cannock Chase area that night please contact us.”

Contact Staffordshire Police on Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident number 133 of 14 March.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.