Guard dogs to stop cemetery metal thieves

Security is being stepped up at cemeteries in north London with the introduction of dog patrols to deter thieves trying to snatch brass, copper and bronze from tombstones.

It comes after a series of thefts from graveyards in the borough of Camden, including at Hampstead where fixtures were prised from the Bianchi memorial in October. Other items stolen include gardening tools and a sundial.

A Camden council spokesman said: "Metal theft is on the rise across the country with the current economic climate and we are looking at what we can do to further protect our cemeteries. This includes securing the sites at dusk and the use of security patrols with dogs, where appropriate.

"Staff and contractors have also been briefed and will be keeping an eye out for anyone acting suspiciously around memorials and will challenge them as appropriate to help keep the memorials safe."

The increase in metal thefts has been linked to the soaring prices of scrap metal, in particular the price of copper which has doubled to more than £5,000 a ton since 2009.

Last month the Metropolitan Police launched its Waste and Metal Theft Taskforce, a specialist unit dedicated to tackling the problem which is costing the capital an estimated £700 million a year.

The extra security measures at Camden's cemeteries have been welcomed by community groups.

Cemeteries are not the only places being targeted by thieves. Last week an entire allotment in Muswell Hill was stripped of thousands of pounds of household metal items and tools in two late-night raids. The thieves plundered 82 sheds.

Concern for outdoor artworks is also growing following the theft of a £500,000 bronze sculpture from Dulwich Park last month. The Barbara Hepworth piece was cut from its plinth the night after Scotland Yard launched its taskforce.

Police say a memorial is stripped every week in London with energy firms also reporting 700 thefts a week from substations and pylons.