Callous thieves are being hunted after stealing lead from a war memorial.

The thieves struck sometime between 2.50am and 3.30am today at the
Chatham Naval Memorial in Great Lines Heritage Park, Chatham.

Now police have vowed to bring the culprits to justice.

Acting Chief Insp Richard Cherry said: "It is really disappointing that metal thieves will stoop so low as to steal the lead from a memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives courageously fighting in two world wars.

"The matter will be fully investigated in order to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"Kent Police and Medway District has mounted a number of successful operations in recent months to tackle metal thieves and we are committed to keeping up the pressure on those committing such crimes in our communities."

"it is really disappointing that metal thieves will stoop so low as to steal the lead from a memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives courageously fighting in two world wars.
" – acting chief insp richard cherry

As part of the drive to stop metal thefts, police are working with
local scrap metal yards, local authority environmental enforcement officers and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Mr Cherry said: "In the coming weeks and months we will be carrying out regular road checks and checks on scrap metal yards.

"We will be using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to target both vehicles known to carry scrap metal and unregistered waste carriers and we will be using forensic property markers and UV technology to track metal thieves."

He has urged anyone who knows about the latest theft, or any others, to contact the police on the 101 number, quoting reference 04-0094 or call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55 111.