Sutton roofer who used Google Earth for lead theft escapes jail term (From Your Local Guardian)

Sutton roofer who used Google Earth for lead theft escapes jail term

10:40am Saturday 14th March 2009

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A roofer has ecaped a jail term for stealing lead worth £100,000 from some of the most historic properties in Sutton and Croydon.

Tom Berge, 27, of Rosehill, Sutton, used the Google Earth website to identify listed buildings, churches and schools that could be looted for metals.

During the highly sosphisticated operation from September to February, he made £44,500 by selling a 44.5-tonne haul of lead.

The roofs of Honeywood Museum in Carshalton, Sutton High School for Girls and Croydon Parish Church were all plundered.

Magistrates in Sutton sentenced Berge to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, after he confessed to more than 30 offences.

The court was told that the roofer, using several accomplices, prepared the thefts meticulously to exploit scrap metal prices.

He went to sites equipped with ladders, stole a car to transport his ill-gotten gains and used ropes to make a speedy getaway by abseiling down walls.

Berge was eventually stopped by police on February 7 and interviewed by dectectives in Sutton, who uncovered the catalogue of lead thefts.

A police spokesman said: “The properties hit included Sutton High School for Girls and the Honeywood Museum, Carshalton, where £10,000-worth of lead was removed from the roof of each building.

“Another building hit was Croydon Parish Church where the theft of lead from its roof let in the rain and caused extensive damage.”

Detective Sergeant Chris Grant, of Sutton CID, added: “He was a prolific offender up until the time he was arrested. Since then our crime figures for theft of lead have reduced significantly.”

Berge was also made the subject of a curfew between 7am and 7pm and ordered to do 100 hours’ unpaid work.

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