Access basilica restricted to stop thieves from stripping copper

BRUSSELS – The council of the famed Koekelberg basilica parish in the Brussels suburb has closed off motorized vehicle access to thwart the possibility of thieves stripping more drainpipes and gutters from the facility. Theft of such copper material has heightened the risk of serious leakage, especially because the copper is difficult to replace with pipes and gutters produced from other material. The basilica was built to commemorate Belgium’s 75th anniversary as an independent state, but for various reasons, took 65 years to complete. The building rates as one of the largest churches in the world, measuring 164 metres long by 107 metres wide. Its highest point is 89 metres.