HERITAGE chiefs are to set up a task force with police and amateur enthusiasts to crack down on the growing problem of crime against historic properties.

Historic Scotland is to consult with Scotland's police forces and insurance companies to work out how to tackle various aspects of heritage crime while creating an "early warning" network to target criminals who are breaking into properties and ransacking historic sites.

Experts say metals thefts and "nighthawking" – raiding protected sites for artefacts – are causing irreparable damage and cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds each year. It follows a rise in global prices of lead, copper and brass.

The Scottish Government's heritage watchdog will recruit community bodies such as Neighbourhood Watch, amateur archaeologists and metal-detector users to report suspicious activity around historic sites to stamp out thefts and vandalism.

Guidelines will be issued shortly to the owners of the country's 47,000 listed properties on how to protect the sitse. These will offer advice on issues such as installing proximity alarms.

Noel Fojut, head of policy and legislation at Historic Scotland, said people often feel listed buildings are "somebody else's problem", but, he said: "Heritage is there for everyone and we have to engage more with the community to get this across. Lead from a roof might only sell for £50 but the damage it can lead to will cost tens of thousands of pounds."

Historic Scotland is now formulating the action plan following the country's first heritage crime summit, and will set up a direct consultation with police forces.

Heritage crime includes everything from stealing lead from roofs of churches and failing to declare treasure trove to looting artefacts from scheduled sites, shipwrecks and even museums.

Mr Fojut called the seminar after a study south of the border revealed nearly 70,000 historic properties – nearly 20% of its listed buildings – had been hit by some form of crime in one year. While his "gut feeling" is that levels are not as high in Scotland, he said: "Part of the problem is we simply don't know."

There are some indications of the scale of the problem. Last week it was revealed that 30 Church of Scotland properties in Scotland were targeted for metals thefts in the last six months.

A report by Edinburgh City Council recorded a cost of more than £350,000 in one year for metal theft and vandalism at historic properties in the capital.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said the force was developing ways to help tackle heritage crime and would work closely with Historic Scotland.

He added: "The wider community can play a part in protecting our heritage by being aware that it can be vulnerable to attack and by reporting it to the police."

Metal detectorist Alastair Hacket, of the Scottish Detector Club, said: "We have worked with Historic Scotland to provide a pamphlet on metal detecting. We are always amenable to talk about this."

Meanwhile, properties are now being put on Historic Scotland's Buildings at Risk Register at a rate of 20 a month. Some are affected by vandalism, including Charles Rennie Mackintosh's B-Listed former BBC headquarters in Queen Margaret Drive in Glasgow.

The building has been bought by leisure entrepreneur Stefan King. In June, Historic Scotland's Buildings at Risk Register reported lead had been taken from the cupola on the roof, exposing woodwork.

Buildings on the register include the A-listed Tarlair Swimming Pool in Macduff, Aberdeenshire.

The Art Deco tidal swimming pool, boating pool and paddling pool is described as being in very poor condition and at high risk.

Another new addition was Donaldson's former School for the Deaf in Edinburgh.

Developer Cala bought the WH Playfair building about eight years ago for £15m, but work has stalled and the A-listed building is empty.