Ecclesiastical, the niche insurer of churches and specialist buildings such as schools in the UK, have reported that in the first five months of 2010 they have received 722 claims for metal theft, costing the insurer £1.6million in pay outs.
This has led the insurer to predict that 2010 will be the second worst on record for Ecclesiastical who saw an increase of metal theft in 2008 when a record 1,382 claims were made in the same five month period of that year.
That spate of theft blamed primarily on the financial crisis at the time, cost the company £4.2million and led to warnings that premiums would increase unless increased security in insured buildings could be proven.
Whether that advice was heeded by Ecclesiastical’s clients is not clear, but once again as the crime increases the same message applies.
The worrying statistics are say Ecclesiastical linked to the scrap value prevailing at the time of theft, the higher the current value for scrap, the more robberies take place.
It is not just the traditional theft of lead from Church roofs that is involved with 20% of claims now involving schools and heritage properties.
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