Police in Kirklees have urged the public: “Help us catch the stone thieves”.

They want residents and businesses to report suspicious activity surrounding stone theft.

They believe the thieves often strike during the day, posing as workmen carrying out repairs.

The hardest hit areas include rural areas of the Holme and Colne Valleys which have seen dozens of arrest and subsequent prosecutions.

A campaign “When it’s gone, its gone”, launched nearly a year ago has proved successful in highlighting the need for members of the public to phone in anything suspicious.

But Kirklees Rural Inspector Mark Trueman says the need to report activity is still an ongoing issue.

Insp Trueman said: ““I would urge anyone who sees unusual activity around stones being lifted to contact ourselves. Thieves are blatant and unashamed, they will carry-out thefts in broad daylight. If you see this type of activity, let us know by phoning 101.

“Once the original stone has gone, the cost of replacing of it can be too expensive and sadly it has to be replaced with a less attractive commodity namely Tarmac.”

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney has raised the issue in the Commons and wants a similar law to combat stone thefts as there is to beat metal thefts.

The 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers Act, which requires dealers to hold a licence to trade and gave councils powers to deal with rogue businesses, has slashed the number of metal thefts.

In recent weeks, thieves have dug up large sections of paved paths outside local churches and calmly stripped the roof off Scapegoat Hill School at least twice.

Insp Trueman added: “I welcome the fact that this issue is being raised in Parliament by a local M.P. Jason McCartney, and I too urge the Government to bring in legislation similar recently introduced law around the buying and selling of metal at scrap merchants. This has seen a decrease in that type of offence due the restrictions imposed on both the seller and buyer, thereby deterring the thief and the receiver.”

MP Jason McCartney has called for a ‘dedicated taskforce’ to tackle stone thefts.

During a debate in the Commons this week, the Colne Valley member also appealed for increased fines as ‘exemplary’ sentences for stone thieves and a system for tracing stolen stone.

The Conservative MP said: “First, I would like there to be a dedicated stone theft taskforce, like the one that was set up to tackle metal theft in 2011.

“Secondly, I would like there to be a national and regional awareness campaign so that householders and businesses that deal with stone, tiles and paving slabs check where they are from, and so that the public can challenge those who pose as workmen in dayglo jackets, whether they are ripping up stone pavements or taking off roof tiles.

“Finally, I would like to see an increase in the fines that are handed out to those who are convicted and the introduction of exemplary punishments to deter these extremely antisocial criminals.

“Our heritage is being stolen, brick by brick. Let us tackle the scourge of stone theft, as we did metal theft.”

Anyone with information should contact 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

In unrelated investigations, police would like to speak to the people pictured in the image gallery below. The people pictured in the images may be witnesses as well as suspects. If you recognise anyone, contact police on 101 quoting the reference number on the image caption.