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Elderly at risk after gas cylinder thefts
These cylinders have been chained together to deter thieves. Photo supplied
THIEVES have put the health of elderly residents at risk during the cold snap by stealing gas cylinders used for home heating.
Residents of two static caravans at the Dukesmead Mobile Home Park in Werrington had their gas supply cut during sub-zero temperatures when the thieves cut through rubber pipes and removed the heavy cylinders on Friday and Sunday night.
The criminals have been slammed by Dukesmead park manager David Holmes, who said they put the safety of residents at serious risk on a weekend when temperatures plummeted.
He said: “One of the residents involved is bed-ridden – she could have got hypothermia.
“It’s also very expensive for these residents, most of whom are elderly, to replace the canisters. With the repairs to the piping on top, you’re looking at £80 or £90 a time.
“We have a neighbourhood watch group around here but there’s not really much more we can do other than keep an eye out.
“I don’t think there’s much the police can do as it’s quite open around here, they’d have to catch someone red-handed.”
One anxious resident, who did not wish to be identified, shared their concerns with the ET.
They said they had taken to chaining together some of the cylinders outside the caravans to make them more difficult to steal.
They added: “The cost of repairing the pipe and replacing the bottle is almost a full week’s pension for many of the residents.”
Mayor of Peterborough and Werrington South, Cllr Paula Thacker, has also expressed her dismay at the thoughtless actions of the thieves.
She said: “There are a lot of elderly residents in this part of Werrington, so it has to stop.
“It was extremely cold last weekend and we had snow on Saturday night, so it is those elderly residents who will suffer.”
Police have confirmed that they received reports of two gas bottles being stolen from the Dukesmead park over the weekend and that they would be stepping up patrols in the area.
The first cylinder was taken between 7pm on Friday and 8am on Saturday and the second between 11pm on Sunday and 7.30am on Monday.
A police spokesman said: “In both incidents, thieves took the bottles after cutting through connecting pipes.
“Police are investigating and have increased patrols in the area.”
Anyone with information about the thefts should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
eldercare78
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:07 PMElder care is so important! It seems too many of the times no one does anything until after a problem has arose. I found this free checklist very helpful in preventing any crisis! It is available for download here: http:www.medicalalert.com
Chiefy
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 08:18 AMComment removed by moderator
mrangryblowoff
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 07:04 AMJust for the record I used to live in a mobile home myself so I know how infuriating it can be when your gas bottle is stolen - this happened to me three times in a year. And i'm not having a go at anyone living in a mobile home - far from it.
adamsetchfield
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 01:00 AMComment removed by moderator
hobbitinthefens
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:08 PMComment removed by moderator
beccyg69
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:57 PMwell actually mrangryblowoff a lot of the houses in the rural areas of peterborough use bottled gas as they are not able to be connected to the mains
mrangryblowoff
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:38 PMComment removed by moderator
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