Thirty gas meters stolen from Telford street
Elderly people in Telford were today left without heating or cooking facilities after thieves stole 30 gas meters along the same street.
The lives of householders were put at risk when criminals last night tampered with the supply in a bid to sell the metal boxes for scrap, National Grid warned.
People living in Chockley's Drive, Leegomery, awoke this morning to find their gas supply had been cut off.
And when they went to look at their meters they found they had been wrenched from the white plastic boxes outside their homes.
National Grid today received the same report from more than 30 customers, some of whom were elderly people living alone.
The company was today sending emergency heating and cooking equipment out to those in need and warning of the dangers of interfering with gas supplies.
It is thought the culprits had been turning off the gas supply before making off with the meter, but at least one customer reported the smell of gas, prompting fears of a leak.
Jeanette Unsworth, of National Grid, said: "We were contacted by a resident this morning reporting a gas meter was missing from the white plastic box outside her house in Chockley's Drive, Leegomery.
"On further investigation, we have had more than 30 reports of the same nature in the same road. Obviously our role is to provide a gas emergency service so we go out to make sure the property is safe.
"A number of people affected are vulnerable customers, including elderly people living alone.
"Gas is dangerous when it builds up in a confined space but as these meters were outside, the gas will dissipate into the atmosphere."
It is believed the meters may be sold for scrap and detectives from West Mercia Police were today attempting to trace them. They appealed for anyone offered them or with any more information to call 101 quoting incident number 62S261113.
