Thieves leave no stones unturned

BRAZEN thieves have turned to pinching paving stones to make a quick few quid

RESIDENTS in Oldham Edge have hit a stumbling block after stretches of pavements vanished.

Thieves chipped away expensive stone from a decades-old Henshaw Street pathway in the night — the latest attack in a series of thefts that have seen stone stolen from gardens and pathways.

The latest incident, opposite the White House Inn, came over Christmas and New Year and left residents astonished at the lengths thieves will go to.

Landlord Ronnie Cartwright said regulars had been complaining about the increasing use of what they call “gate-hopping”.

He said: “They have told us about people jumping into their gardens and trying to steal their stone flags while they’re at home. Iron grids have also been a target. The council replaces them and then they’re ripped up again. We’ve got cameras around the outside of the pub now.

“It’s really unfair. People come and tear these stones up and then someone’s got to pay to put it right.”

An officer from Oldham Council nvestigated the most recent damage, but the land is unadopted and its owners could be faced with a bill to correct the damage.

A similar theft happened on a footpath just round the corner, near the home of Revolution Radio.

One resident said: “You don’t expect someone to come along and steal the pavement.”