Thieves Use Cutlery to Steal Lead from School Roof

Thieves caused £10,000 in damage at Arnot St Mary’s Primary School in Walton, Liverpool, after using cutlery to steal lead from the school roof. The culprits smashed up slate with the utensils to access the lead during ongoing repairs to the 139-year-old building.

Liverpool City Council has agreed to cover the repair costs, which came just before the start of term. Deputy head teacher Dan Paton expressed frustration that funds meant for beneficial programs for the children would instead go towards fixing “mindless vandalism.”

Lila Bennett from Liverpool City Council emphasised that such incidents have real victims, affecting both the school staff who manage the damage and the students whose learning may be disrupted. Additional repair work is planned for the spring, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.