High-rise flooded as flat hit in pipe raid

A HIGH-RISE block of flats set for demolition was flooded after thieves broke into an empty home and stole copper pipes and a water tank.

Two inches of water covered the foyer of the Glenalmond Court flats in Sighthill following the metal theft, while the flood also caused lifts in the 15-storey building to stop working.

It is the latest in a series of bizarre thefts as thieves seek to cash-in on the soaring value of scrap metal.

The damage led to the water mains losing pressure, and some of the remaining residents were left without water yesterday morning while council workers carried out emergency repairs.

The copper tank is believed to have been stolen from an unoccupied second floor flat with the water running down to the ground floor.

Council staff are still investigating how the thieves managed to gain entry to the flat as the empty homes have been sealed with metal doors. Workers are also checking over the high-rise in Sighthill Bank for further water damage.

Gillian Boufroura lives in a tenth floor flat with her husband, Krimo, a chef, and their daughters, Leila, 21 months old, and Sara, five months old.

She said: "It started on Friday afternoon when we came home to find the foyer covered in two inches of water. The lifts weren't working so I had to take a double buggy with my children up ten floors on the stairs.

"The water drained away but by 9pm it had flooded again. The council finally set someone on Friday night and the doors were left open to let the water drain away.

"On Saturday the lifts were still not working because of the water. By Sunday, the council had told us the flooding was caused by people stealing copper pipes from the flats.

"When I got up at 6.45am yesterday our water supply had stopped. I couldn't run any water of flush the toilet. I needed the water to sterilise my babies' bottles. When I contacted the council, they said they could send round bottles of water for us."

A city council spokesman said: "Our emergency staff carried out repairs to prevent further flooding before re-securing the property. Damage to the mains caused the water supply to be lost for a short time yesterday morning but this was restored by lunchtime.

"Investigations into the incident are ongoing."

Police have investigated a number of recent metal thieves in the Lothians.

Last month, a radiator was stolen from the home of two pensioners in Marionville Avenue at around 11am while repairs were made to the house.