RESIDENTS and business owners are being urged to be vigilant following a spate of thefts across the district.

Essex Police has warned people about a apparent rise in incidents where lead is being stolen from rooftops.

Writing on Facebook, The Braintree team said: “There has been a increase of theft of lead in and around the Halstead, Braintree and Witham areas from both domestic and commercial premises.

“Please be aware and keep an eye out and report any suspicious activities to us.”

Several businesses in Newland Street, Witham, are understood to have been targeted by thieves, while firms in a number of nearby roads have also had lead stolen in recent weeks.

Bright and Sons Solicitors, which was one of the firms targeted earlier this month, was forced to carry out emergency repairs to its roof as heavy rain saw water leak through into its waiting area.

Solicitor Amanda Bright said: “The thieves took the lead off the front of our roof and we had to get it fixed quickly with all the rain around.

“We had water pouring through the roof into our waiting area for clients because there was nothing but wooden boards left.

“It’s so disgusting that people could do this and it’s almost unbelievable that they could do it on one of the busiest streets in the town in the middle of the night.”

She added: “The change in Government legislation (which required scrap metal dealers to be licensed) seemed to stop lead thefts from happening for a bit but there are so many places in Witham being hit by it now.

“There has been a real spate of thefts in the last few weeks. There’s a whole residential street where all the houses have had lead stolen off them. You wonder where it all goes and how much money is made out of it.”

Anyone with information about any of the thefts is urged to contact police on 101.