Copper down pipes and spouting, worth about $1000, have been stolen from two buildings in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Early Monday morning all the copper down pipes on the Gardens Café were taken along with some of the spouting. The same night four copper down pipes were taken from the Curator's House Restaurant building.

Police have been informed and the Christchurch City Council's Parks Unit has alerted all major city scrap dealers.

The Unit's garden parks team leader, Warwick Scadden, said the theft was a real concern and was another act of vandalism in the gardens.

He said the thieves would have used a vehicle to cart away the copper guttering and they knew precisely what they wanted.

"It is particularly disappointing to lose the copper of the restaurant as it is an historic building and recently been restored," Mr. Scadden said.

Further information: Warwick Scadden: 371 1637.

Christchurch City Council http://www.ccc.govt.nz

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