Copper thieves leave residents high and dry

Residents have been left without water today after thieves stole copper pipes from their Aberdeen tenement.
Police were called out to the block of flats in Tillydrone early yesterday morning.

Officers have said that the copper pipes that have been stolen control the residents water supply.

Plasterer Colin Sutherland returned from work to find he had no water:. He said: “It is a nightmare not being able to have a shower after you finish work.

“This has affected everyone in the block".

Residents revealed that council workers had brought them three bottles of water during the day, but said it was not enough to get them by if the water supply was not restored today.

Catherine Paterson, 74, a retired home help, said she had been given bottles of water. She also hit out at the thieves.

She said: “It is awful. We have no water and can’t do anything. It is a sick thing for someone to do.
“The council did give us water, but it is not enough to shower or anything.

“We can’t go on like this for much longer.”

Aberdeen City Council has said it is doing everything possible to restore the water supply.

A council spokesman said: “Council officers are working to reinstate the supply of water to all residents in Tillydrone Court with a view to the pipes being replaced and water becoming available first thing today.

“In the meantime, residents are being provided with bottled water and Grampian Fire and Rescue Service is due to routinely fill the communal water tank in the block, which will provide a temporary supply.

Grampian Police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating a quantity of copper piping that had been stolen.”

The public are being advised to contact Grampian Police if they have any information on the theft.

Laura Fyall