Fears historic copper dome stolen for scrap

Police are investigating what happened to the ANZ Bank Chambers' dome during the clean-up. Photo / Getty Images

One of Christchurch's most iconic copper domes may have been stolen while buildings have been demolished and cleared in the central city.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Harvey confirmed yesterday an investigation was under way to find out what had happened to the dome that sat on top of the old ANZ Bank Chambers on the corner of Lichfield and High Sts.

He wouldn't comment further.

The heavy dome came crashing down in the February 22 quake. The building, which was built in 1915, was destroyed. It housed apartments and retail shops.

Police are investigating whether the dome was stolen to be sold for scrap metal. Copper sells for $7.50 a kilogramme.

The dome was in the cordoned off red zone. Police are finding a number of business premises have been the target of thieves.

Scrap metal company Eco Metals driver and supervisor Paul Thomas said he was not aware of the incident.

But, he said, if it had been stolen then someone working in the red zone had probably done it. "How else is anyone else likely to get in there to get it," he said. "Put two and two together, they've only allowed a certain amount of people in there. You think it'd be an inside job."

Mr Thomas said if the dome was stolen he believed it would have been cut up to try to dispose of it more easily.

But demolition company Blakely Construction operations manager Ivan McPhail said the dome could have been cleared along with the rubble.

"That area was an absolute bomb site through there. You could hardly get a ute through. What's not to say it ended up in the dump in the process of cleaning up the road?" he said. "It could've disappeared then.

It could be sitting out in Burwood," he added.

- APN