Fresh appeal on metal thefts

METAL thieves have been raiding homes across Tyneside.

The lengthy investigation into raids between April 2009 and early 2010 was led by Newcastle's Outer West CID Team, and resulted in the arrest of Graham, Scott and Dunn."The incident was caused by the removal of copper pipe from a property, gas supplies in the local area have not been affected and the network is safe and secure.THIS gang of three are behind bars for a burglary spree which cost businesses hundreds of thousands of pounds.have been locked up after admitting conspiracy to stealAnd it has now emerged that thieves had cut through copper pipework.The explosion on Sunday morning saw police evacuate neighbours and install a 180ft (55m) cordon as fire service, gas company and structural engineers investigated the scene.

And 12 people were reported for not having the appropriate waste carriers licence.

Scrap metal thieves blamed for gas blast; Explosion at home after piping stolen

Byline: NICK LAVIGUEUR

Two women connected to the investigation were also sentenced.The area was deemed safe a few hours later and by 11:30am people had been allowed to return to their homes.Items including pounds 450 worth of copper cable and pounds 200 worth of copper discs were recovered.And 12 people were reported for not having the appropriate waste carriers licence.Inspector Damien Miller, of the Holbeck Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "The fact is they are not only risking their lives, but they are also putting the lives of other members of the public at risk.Northumbria Police's Outer West Newcastle Neighbourhood Insp Mick Farrell said: "These five were involved in burglaries at industrial and business premises across the force and the CID team here launched an investigation.The 29-year-old man from Morley was admitted to Leeds General Infirmary last Wednesday evening after suffering serious burns to his body.Northern Gas Networks spokeswoman, Gwen Allen, said they had worked alongside emergency services to make the scene safe.PC Euan Faulke, of Northumbria Police's Byker and Walker Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We've had several thefts of lead recently, mainly involving lead being stolen from people''s porches and roofs. "It's important if residents see a crime or suspicious activity - such as people on roofs of homes and porches - they contact police as soon as possible.All three defendants have now been sentenced for their roles in the raids."This is particularly important when thieves break into sites, because young children could then easily access these sites and put themselves at danger.Traffic was also diverted while the gas supply to the area was cut and the area made safe.The woman triggered the blast after turning on a kitchen light but escaped the property unharmed.Operation Yard focused on burglaries on business and industrial premises throughout the Northumbria Police force area.A TERRIFYING gas blast in Mirfield was caused by scrap metal thieves, police have revealed."I would urge criminals to consider the life-threatening risks they are taking, and I would also urge parents to warn their children of the risks they would be taking when entering or playing on disused industrial sites that are often the target for such thefts.""Inquiries led to them being arrested and charged with conspiracy to burgle."We'll continue to use every tool at our disposal and work closely with other area commands and force resources to make sure offenders are brought to justice for their crimes."Officers were called to the hospital at around 7pm by a doctor but the man later discharged himself and refused to speak to detectives about the incident.Rachel Taylor, 21, of Kielder Road, Lemington, was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years with supervision required for 12 months together with 80 hours of unpaid work.A 53-year old woman, who had been in the house at the time of the explosion, was not injured by the blast.CAPTION(S):Over a crime campaign lasting more than a year, the crooks raided industrial premises all over Newcastle and Gateshead."The quicker it's reported, the quicker we can get there and it helps us trace those people who are responsible."I am therefore appealing for anyone with any information on this incident, or anybody who has witnessed any people looking for, or trying to obtain, scrap metal in and around the Mirfield area over the last few days to contact me via or 01924 431012."People living in the Walkergate area of Newcastle have been the victims of a spate of thefts. Police are now urging residents to report any information they have about metal thefts and to alert police to any suspicious activities in the area.

* WRECKED: A wall was blown out by the gas explosion at Hepworth Lane, Mirfield. Below, a road is cordoned off on Sunday (JH280311Gmirfield-03)

Gang ofthree cost […]; Heavy metal targeted in firms across the North East

Byline: SOPHIE DOUGHTY

* WRECKED: A wall was blown out by the gas explosion at Hepworth Lane, Mirfield. Below, a road is cordoned off on Sunday (JH280311Gmirfield-03)"It's likely in some cases they will also have a vehicle to transport the metal, so any suspicious vehicles should also be reported to officers."And at a business on Newburn Bridge Road, in Blaydon, Gateshead, reels of cable worth pounds 15,000 were stolen, while a raid of expensive tools and machinery worth in excess of pounds 100,000 were stolen during a raid in Lemington, Newcastle.The Mirfield incident comes a few days after a man was hospitalised while trying to steal electrical cabling from a disused power station in Leeds.Police in Byker and Walker staged an operation which resulted in six people being arrested for theft and handling stolen goods.They had both been charged with an offence of theft.Kirklees police later discovered the blast was caused by a gas leak after thieves stole copper piping that attached a gas meter to the boiler of the house.On one occasion a vacant business premises in Gateshead was left with damage totalling almost pounds 125,000 when copper piping was removed from the roof.The explosion just before 6am on Saturday blew out the roof and wall of a lean-to at a home on Hepworth Lane, Mirfield, scattering rubble into the street."Whoever has taken this copper piping has clearly neglected to think of not only their own safety, but also that of innocent people in the area.She said: "We capped off the gas supply as quickly as possible to make the area completely safe."This is quite rare however as most people are aware of just how dangerous it is to wilfully damage a gas pipe."Graham was jailed for six years, Karl Scott for five years, and Christopher Dunn was sentenced to three years, all for conspiracy to steal after previously pleading guilty to the offence."I'm pleased with the sentences passed, which ensures the main offenders are off the streets and not committing further crimes."Tampering with gas pipes and equipment poses a real danger and the sad thing is the small amount of copper removed won't be worth much at all.The offenders or their vehicles could be placed at scenes of crimes, while stolen property was recovered from their homes during house searches.During the course of the investigation a large amount of stolen property was recovered, including power tools, alloy wheels and trailers.But it was only after police launched a specialist operation they were able to link them to the raids and prove they were working together as part of a gang.Gemma Taylor, 24, of Johnson Street, Lemington, was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 24 months and must complete 80 hours of unpaid work.Detectives are now appealing for information from people who may have seen scrap metal collectors in the area.Colin Graham, 37, of no fixed address; Karl Scott, 23, of Kielder Road, Lemington, Newcastle, and Christopher Dunn, 22, of Leam Lane Estate in Gateshead, had all been arrested on numerous occasions."This brings to fruition a protracted investigation and has resulted in dozens of crimes being detected across the Northumbria Police force area, as well as property being recovered.Anyone with any information about the Mirfield incident can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

have been locked up after admitting conspiracy to steal

FRANK ROOSEVELT'S OP. 421 DAMAGED IN FIRE

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDING TO A SMALL roof fire at Saint James the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in lower Manhattan caused serious damage to the Frank Roosevelt Opus 421. The essentially unaltered 1889 III/36 organ was awarded the OHS's Historical Citation No. 369 on October 13, 2008, after it had been structurally stabilized and rewinded, returning a portion of it to playing condition.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, Binswanger is an international full-service real estate organization with offices worldwide throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The destruction has been documented and insurance procedures initiated, but the future of the instrument and the 1826 building, which garnered landmark status 111 1966, remains uncertain.

PPG publishes ULTRA-Cool coatings brochure

PPG Industries' coil and extrusion coatings group has published a brochure highlighting colorful Duranar ULTRA-Cool and SUPERL II ULTRA-Cool infrared-reflective coatings for metal roofs, sidewalls and building components. The six-page booklet quantifies the energy and environmental benefits associated with ULTRACool coatings, which are designed to deflect solar heat away from buildings so they stay cooler and use less energy for air conditioning. Duranar ULTRA-Cool coatings are available in a broad palette of light and dark colors, enabling architects to design bold, distinctive buildings without sacrificing energy performance. The brochure also features Duranar VARI-COOL coatings, the first metal coatings to combine ULTRA-Cool coatings technology with special-effect pigments that change color depending on how light refracts off their surface and the angle from which they are viewed, the company said. Duranar ULTRA-Cool and Duranar VARI-Cool coatings are based on the Duranar PVDF coating system by PPG, which has a 40-year history of performance in harsh building environments. The coatings also meet steep-slope, cool roof requirements for Energy Star Title 24 and LEED criteria published by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Superl II ULTRA-Cool coatings are formulated with a proprietary siliconepolyester resin technology that provides chalk- and fade-resistance. To download a copy of the ULTRA-Cool coatings brochure, visit www.ppgideascapes.com.

Binswanger Named Exclusive Sales Agent by TJX Companies for a Warehouse/Distribution Building in Fall River, Massachusetts

Binswanger has been named exclusive agent by TJX Companies to represent them on the sale of a 500,000 sq. ft. warehouse/distribution building on 27.5 acres situated at 350 Commerce Drive in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Built in 2000 with an addition in 2002, the warehouse/distribution building is in excellent condition. Key features include 5.5" and 7" concrete slab floors; 4" insulated metal panel walls; EPDM mechanically fastened rubber membrane over insulation and steel deck roof; columns spaced 42' x 42' in the low bay warehouse and 42' x 43'6" in the high bay warehouse, ceiling heights from 32' to 47' in the warehouse and 9' in the office; T-8 and T-5 fluorescent electronic ballast lighting; all utilities; 100% wet sprinkler protected with 10" fire protection loop circling the property; approximately 20,500 sq. ft. of office space; 83 8' x 10' dock-high loading doors with levelers, bumpers, locks, and lights; one 12' x 16' drive-in door; four compactor doors; and 510 paved parking spaces for cars with 136 spaces dedicated for trailer storage.The January 10 midday blaze was at the opposite end of the building, above the ceiling, so the gallery organ suffered no fire, smoke, or water damage. Rather, its pipework and mechanisms were torn from their racks, trampled, and battered by firefighters who entered the instrument because they were not informed that there was no roof access through the organ. Major wind trunks and many delicate metal conductors to the facade pipes were crushed, trackers were snapped, and pipework crushed. The Great, Choir, and Pedal reeds were very seriously damaged. The Swell division remains unscathed.CONTACT: Laurie Goldstein 215-448-6014 Email ContactBinswanger is aggressively marketing the property to a variety of users, including retail trade; wholesale trade; third-party logistics; warehousing; and manufacturers of food, paper, plastics & rubber, fabricated metals, machinery, motor vehicle body & trailer, furniture & related products.Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine

CONTACT: Laurie Goldstein 215-448-6014 Email Contact

Choosing Which Roofing Material to Use for Your Home

Composite Shingles

In the same way water runs along the valleys between two mountains, water runs along the valleys on your roof peaks. Valleys generally receive the highest concentration of water flowing through them, therefore installing them correctly is extremely important!Typically, Roof Deck Protection is a step lower in quality than a Leak Barrier. As with Leak Barriers however, there are many different types of Roof Deck Protection available to choose from ranging from basic felt/tar paper to advanced plastic woven sheets of rip and wrinkle proof material. Choosing a reliable Roof Deck Protection is an important part of a quality Roof System.Metal: ValleysFor roofing services, roofing contractors, or general contractors, try Beacon Construction Services. They are a roofing company that services the areas of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Lutz.Some area local building codes require the installation of Drip Edge and Rake Edge and other building codes do not. Check with your local city building offices to find out. In Alberta for example, the Building Code does not require the installation of Drip edge or Rake edge. Therefore many new homes and/or low budget roof systems do not have drip edge installed in order to allow for more affordable roof prices. We recommend however that Drip edge and Rake edge be installed on every Roof System, no exceptions.Roof Deck Protection is very similar to a Leak Barrier. The difference is that Roof Deck Protection is installed on the entire Roof Deck area instead of only on "special areas" as we mention in the Leak Barrier section.The lowered stance, the wider front and rear wings - with extractor vents set in the front ones to help with cooling and high speed stability, the side skirts, and an F1-inspired front blade all ensure that this Clio stands out in the car park.

For roofing services, roofing contractors, or general contractors, try Beacon Construction Services. They are a roofing company that services the areas of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Lutz.

Author: Chris Lontok