A man has been charged with stealing approximately £1m worth of streetlamps and lanterns from places including churches and schools, police have said.
John O'Sullivan, 20, faces 45 counts of theft and is due to appear at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on 5 August.
Hertfordshire Police said 38 of the offences were committed in areas including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Durham, Thames Valley, Essex and Hertfordshire.
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O'Sullivan is also accused of seven additional theft offences between 17 September 2025 and 17 March of this year in Hertfordshire.
They allegedly included Grade II-listed 1950s street lamps, known as Richardson Candles, which the force said were stolen from Cambridge city centre.
The streetlamps and lanterns were taken from councils, businesses, churches, schools and private owners, the force alleges.
Anna O'Sullivan, 66, and Richard O'Sullivan, 67, were also charged with handling stolen goods, and will appear at Stevenage Magistrates' Court on 12 August.
(c) Sky News 2026: Man charged with stealing £1m worth of streetlamps and ornate lanterns across UK
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