Most heinous of crimes

In fact, when town centre roofs start getting stripped, the sentiment is one of bemused amazement rather than disgust at the crime.

However, it is no laughing matter for the 'victims' who face expensive repair bills, especially when the crime occurs more than once - take, for example, the householder whose path had been repeatedly stolen and who now has to lift up and store away his path every time he goes on holiday.

The police response is the usual one of asking people to be on their guard.

And they are quite right, the public remains the first line of defence in the fight against crime.

The police cannot be everywhere and it is up to communities to help them where they can.

However, this plea for help eventually becomes somewhat tiresome, particularly when crimes in progress are reported and there are not enough officers to respond and catch the culprits in the act.

It is a sad state of affairs when a scheme to park a police car periodically in a lay-by in Guiseley, recently reported in this paper, is heralded as a boost for policing and the fight against crime.

Surely more policemen on patrol is the long term solution to crime problems. A national survey this week proved this is what the public wants.

While officers on the ground, doing their utmost under

difficult conditions to serve the public, deserve nothing less than our fulsome praise, the politicians who have left our

police stations closing and empty of officers deserve our

venom for they are the real culprits.

Is it too much for a tax-paying modern society to ask that it should have sufficient numbers of officers patrolling its streets? Perhaps at the forthcoming elections if a politician knocks on your door it might be worth pointing this out to them in no uncertain terms.

And the next time you pass a policeman, give them a smile and nod hello as the 'bobby on the beat' is as disgruntled at the situation as we are.

As for the stone thieves themselves, if they are caught it is to be hoped the courts will not look lightly on their crime. They are obviously fit individuals to be able to carry this stone about, so perhaps society could make use of their good health by sentencing them to a few hundred hours of

community service, or why not give them the chance to hone their physiques further in the prison gym.