CHURCHES in Penistone will not be getting state of the art DNA Grease to help stop lead thefts that have caused thousands of pounds of damage because police have declared it too expensive.
The new approach to try to catch thieves is being trialed at a church in Darfield but police in Penistone want to see how effective it is before shelling out.
Simon Grayson, of Penistone Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We will not be using it at the present time until it has been properly tested. It may be something we look at in the future but it is very expensive.”
The grease leaves a strong red dye on anyone who comes into contact with it and even after this fades the grease stays on the person and can be seen under UV lights.
It also has a unique code so if the lead was sold on it could be traced to where it originally came from. Vicar Father David Hopkin of St John’s Church, Penistone, said something like this may have helped catch thieves that have stolen almost half the lead from the church roof.
