Metal thefts rife

IT WOULD seem that metal thefts from boats is getting rife, with another boater telling of brass taken from his narrowboat.

We were moored at Bridge 80 on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to do some shopping at the Selly Oak(?) Sainsbury's, and hadn't been gone more than three quarters of an hour, but came back to see our two years old 68ft boat vandalised, writes James Farley.

Leaving a mess

As with your correspondent, the brass mushrooms had been ripped off, leaving jagged holes in the metal work and the brass drop-down steps also taken, again leaving a mess.  If this was not enough, the tiller pin and tiller, both brass, had been taken.

We think that someone saw us arrive and watched where we went and then went to work removing what brass they could.  There was no attempt to gain entry to the boat, though I have to admit all that stopped them was a simple padlock, that could easily have been smashed with any heavy tool.

Chrome vents

We have paid out to have it all replaced, but this time have gone for the flat chrome vents, though they do not suit the boat, but explain why there are others with no brass showing.

It seems that brass is fetching a high price these days with the demand from China fuelling the price, so if you have brass mushroom vents, take care where you leave your boat.