THIEVES caused a gas leak at the home of a Bewdley pensioner after cutting a pipe.

A local resident alerted police just before midnight last Thursday after noticing a strong smell of gas in Cordle Marsh Road, Wribbenhall.

It was discovered that around 6ft of metal gas pipe, worth £50, had been taken from the home of a woman in her 70s sometime between 11pm and midnight.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (H&WFRS) also attended the incident, with fire officers working alongside police to evacuate the occupants of several nearby homes before the gas supply to the property was turned off. Firefighters then ventilated the woman’s home while gas engineers were called to deal with the leak.

PC Steve Yapp of the Bewdley Local Policing Team said the elderly woman was very shaken.

He said: “This was an incredibly irresponsible thing to do. Not only are the offenders putting other people in serious danger, they are risking their own lives.”

Watch Commander Adrian Taylor, Arson Reduction Manager with H&WFRS added: “Offenders must realise that by removing gas pipework in this way, they are putting local residents, emergency services staff and themselves at risk. This is a very concerning trend and we are working closely with the police to address the issue.”

Two men were seen acting suspiciously in the area. Both were wearing dark clothing, while one had a bald head and the other was wearing a baseball cap.

There was a similar incident in Kidderminster town centre over the weekend.

Offenders broke into a commercial premises in Coventry Street between 5pm on Saturday 18 June and 6am on Monday 20 June, and cut a number of pipes, including a live gas pipe and a water pipe, causing leaks. They stole £400 worth of copper.

More than 400 metal thefts have been reported across North Worcestershire since the beginning of January, with around 250 of them happening in Wyre Forest.

People are being asked to be vigilant and report anything suspicious, such as ladders being carried or noise from roofs at night, to police immediately.

Even if someone looks like a workman and is dressed in a high visibility jacket, police would much rather check a person is genuine than have a metal theft reported.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.