FEW would have thought a shortage of raw materials like copper and iron in the Far East would lead to a crime spree on the streets of south Essex.

But, in recent months, that is exactly what has happened with crooks staging elaborate thefts across Basildon, Thurrock, Southend and Castle Point to get their hands on lead, copper, iron and other metals to sell on the black market.

In the last four weeks alone, the price of copper has risen by 15 per cent while the price of lead has soared in the last 12 months from £490 a tonne to £1,230.

As a consequence, churches, homes, schools, leisure centres and even the county's roads have not been left untouched by thieves eager to cash in.

Copper piping, copper cabling, lead roof tiles and flashing, cars and even heavy metal cutting equipment used by firefighters to prize people from car wreckages have all been taken to feed the demand.

In Southend 54 sq m of lead roof tiles - the equivalent size of half a football pitch - were stolen from the Royal Bank of Scotland building in Priory Cres-cent. The metal was estimated to be worth about £2,000.

Thieves also targeted a residential block of flats, stealing a set of £4,000 wrought iron gates guarding the building, in Imperial Avenue, Westcliff.

Among the worst hit during the scourge was the Swanmead Centre, in Church Road, Vange, which had £6,000 worth of lead stolen from its roof, while the Herringham County Primary School, in St Mary's Road, Chadwell St Mary, had £12,000 of roof tiles taken.

Last month, six homes in Malyons, Pitsea, were left without hot water and gas after criminals ripped out the copper piping linking them to their gas supply.

But, most worryingly, while the crooks have been ripping off lead roof tiles from schools, churches and homes, they have also been stealing cast iron drain covers and gully covers from the roads.

In the past few weeks, 60 of the iron covers have been swiped from roads in south Essex, including 25 from the A13 alone.

The gaping holes left in the road surface by the crooks pose a dangerous hazard for motorists.

Paul Hand, a highways inspector for Essex County Council, who covers the Basildon area, said: "If a gulley cover is removed that potentially can leave an 18in square hole on the side of the carriageway.

"If a car, pedestrian or cyclist didn't see it or was to go down it, anyone with a degree of common sense can imagine what the likely outcome would be.

"It would be like riding a bike along the road and being stopped dead, you would go straight over the handle bars."

Mr Hand said replacing the covers was also proving to be a challenge.

He explained: "The gully covers are readily available, they are an item that from time to time have to be replaced because they get damaged or they suffer normal wear and tear.

"But they certainly don't need to be replaced in the quantities we have been talking about. They tend to replace three or four at a time, but we are talking about up to 30, 40 and 50 at a time."

Since the start of April, 79 lead thefts have been reported to police in Basildon and Thurrock, with the stolen haul worth a total of £72,000.

During the same period, police in the South Eastern division, which covers Southend and Castle Point, have seen 12 incidents involving the theft of lead and 14 involving copper.

Supt Graham Carey, of Basildon police, said: "Obviously the increase in the value of metals and lead has not gone unnoticed by the criminal fraternity.

"But the annoying thing about this sort of crime is there are relatively few places where the thieves can realise a profit from their thefts.

"Realistically you can only sell most of the lead and metals at scrap yards, which makes this different from crimes such as stealing radios and sat navs from vehicles which can be sold to the famous stranger in the pub."

Supt Carey said officers have increased their visits to scrap yards in a bid to catch the crooks.

Det Insp Mark Hall said the public and businesses had to do their bit to ensure they keep their metal belongings safe by locking them away or installing CCTV.

He added: "If you have, for example, taken radiators out of a property and leave it in the front garden overnight, there is a good chance it will be gone by the morning.

"Secure things in some way by locking them in the house, garage or garden shed, because these people are out to help themselves."