Shropshire and Mid Wales churches attacked by thieves 300 times in five years

Organised gangs are deliberately targeting places of worship, seeing them as easy pickings.

One Shropshire church has been targeted on 14 separate occasions, with tiles, roof slates and lead flashing among items taken.

St Mary the Virgin church is a regular haunt for criminals – but new security measures have seen off late-night thieves.

CCTV cameras and alarms have been fitted to the church in Alveley, near Bridgnorth.

In one case, a bell ringer stopped two thieves stealing lead from a church roof by blocking their exit with his car. Tower captain Roy Page was alerted when the church alarm sounded and drove straight over to challenge the men during the early hours of the morning.

Raiders also struck twice in the space of two weeks at the church, taking hundreds of litres of heating oil from a tank in the grounds last year, although one theft was again thwarted when volunteers were alerted by an alarm.

Churchwarden Michael York said lead has been stolen from the roof twice and there have been another two attempted metal thefts in recent years. On one occasion, thieves removed the safe from the church wall and stole the contents.During another raid the hi-fi system was stolen from the lectern.

Mr York said: "People think that churches are rich but that is not the case. When items are stolen from us we then can't go to the diocese and ask for them to be replaced, the items have to be replaced and we can only do that by fundraising."

Today the full list of objects stolen over the last five years was released by West Mercia Police.

Antiques, cash and furniture are among goods most commonly looted from churches.

A pulpit table was among hundreds of items cruel thieves have stolen from Welsh churches.

A credit card, driving documents, money and tickets were among items taken from Shrewsbury Cathedral, while a marble urn was taken from St Saints Church in Newtown.

Cash, hair jewellery, passports, keys and watches were stolen from inside churches – and thieves have even targeted communion wine and biscuits. Masonry, bikes, garden tools and scaffolding were taken from the outside.

West Mercia Police says there have been 177 separate attacks in Shropshire over five years and Dyfed Powys Police says it has recorded 100 thefts on churches over a two year period.

Officers today urged parishioners to review their security measures by installing alarms and CCTV. They say extra security measures, together with a drop in the value of metal, has helped tackle the issue.

Superintendent David McWilliam, of West Mercia Police, said: "Some of the most common thefts have been of lead or metal from the roofs, causing damage which is costly to repair.

"We are encouraging churches and places to review their security measures and look at using alarms and CCTV whenever appropriate.

"We will continue to investigate any reports of thefts, and pursue all lines of enquiry to trace the offenders."

Britain's most prolific church lead thieves were jailed for a total of more than 20 years in 2012, after they left the Church of England with a £1 million repair bill.

The gang made nearly £70,000 from selling the stolen metal over a nine-month period in 2011, but the repairing the damage to the sacred buildings will cost more than 14 times that amount.

Thefts from churches in full

Recorded in Fiscal Years: 2010/11 to 2014/15 (2014/15 Fiscal Year = Apr-Dec Only)

Set out : Place of Worship, property sub category, different property categories stolen

2010/11

• Barnabas Community Church: computer hardware not game consoles, 2

• Beckbury Parish Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1

• Cemetery Chapel: cooking utensils/crockery/glassware/cutlery/storage containers, 1

• Christ Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Crowmoor Baptist Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• Holy Innocents Church: doors/gates including frame/post, glass, 2

• Holy trinity church: Box metal/wooden/plastic, 1,hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1, plants/trees/shrubs, 1, computer hardware not game consoles, 4, driving documents including vel, 1, keys, 2, metal, 2, television & accessories, 2, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2, electrical audio/video, 4, bracelet, 1, camera, 2, cleaning materials ,1, clothing, 1, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2, computer hardware, 2, container, 1, cooking utensils/crockery/glassware/cutlery/storage containers, 3, hair jewellery, 1, keys, 1, metal, 1, pressure cleaner/power washer/jet washer, 1, spanner/socket set/torque wrench, 1, stamps (postage/savings), 1, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 4, toolbox, 1, van/pick-up, 1

• Quinta Independent Evangelical Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Saint Bartholomews Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Shrewsbury Cathedral: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 1

• St Agathas Church: fire blanket/fire extinguisher, 2

• St Alkmunds Church: satellite navigation equipment, 1

• St Andrew and St Mary Church: metal, 2

• St Chads Church: metal, 2

• St Georges Church: garden furniture incl bbq, dustbins, garden gates, 1

• St Lawrences Church: metal, 2

• St Leonards Church: fuel containers/tanks, 2

• St Marys Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 3

• St Marys Rc Church: camping equipment, 1

• St Marys the Virgin Church: metal, 2

• St Pauls Church: padlocks/locks/chains, 1

• St Peters and St Pauls Church: plants/trees/shrubs, 2

• St Peters Church: cash boxes/tills/safes/charity boxes/meters, 2

• St Thomas Church: pedal cycle, 1

• The Church of King Charles the Martyr: garden furniture incl bbq, dustbins, garden gates, 2,

• The Temple: pipes/plumbing/guttering, 2, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

2011/12

• All Saints Church: barriers/road furniture, 2

• Condover Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Elim Church Centre: pedal cycle, 1

• Elim Pentecostal Church: mobile phone/phone charger, 1

• Holy Trinity Church: pipes/plumbing/guttering, 2

• Loppington Church, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit: 2

• Melville Methodist Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Methodist Church: watch, 1

• Prees Methodist Church: antique, 2

• Saint Bartholomews Church: metal, 2

• St Alkmunds Church: money/financial, 2

• St Chads Church: cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card 1, wine/champagne, 2, electrical audio/video 2, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1, hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1, pedal cycle, 1, pedal cycle, accessories, 1, wallet/purse/money, belt, 1,

• St Georges Church: padlocks/locks/chains, 2

• St James Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 1

• St John the Baptist Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• St Johns Church: satellite navigation equipment, 1

• St Mary Magdalene: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 1

• St Mary the Virgin: keys, 1

• St Marys Church: cash boxes/tills/safes/charity boxes/meters, 2, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2, cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card, 1, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 7, grave, 2, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 5, wallet/purse/money belt, 1, documents, 1,

• St Michaels Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• St Nicholas Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Peters and St Pauls: church tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• St Peters Church: scaffolding, 2

• St Peters Presbytery and church: computer hardware, 2

• United Reform Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit 3, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 4, computer hardware, 1, drill/screwdriver, 1, edible goods, 2, hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1, passports including animal passports, 1, torch, 1, vouchers, 1

• St Mary's Church: school/office/hospital furniture and all signs other than highway, 1

2012/13

• All Saints Church: metal, 2

• Cemetery Chapel: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Methodist Church: edible goods, 2

• Nantmawr Chapel: medical equipment including crutches, hearing aids, wheelchairs etc, 1

• Shrewsbury Cathedral: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Chads Church, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Georges, church construction materials, 2

• St John the Baptist Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• St Lawrences Church: cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card, 1, engine/engine,veh parts, 1, edible goods, 2, furniture, 2, hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1, keys 1, stationary including pens,staplers,paper clips etc, 1

• St Leonards Church: cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card, 1

• St Mary Magdalene Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Marys Church, registration plates, 1

• St Marys Rc Church, garden furniture incl bbq, dustbins, garden gates, 2

• St Marys the Virgin Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• St Oswalds Parish Church: pedal cycle, 1

• St Peters Church: fence/fencing materials, 2

• St Simons and St Judes: church garden ornaments/pots, 1

• United Reform Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Weirbrook Church: blocks/bricks/slabs, 2

• Worthen Church: books including map books, 2, wallet/purse/money belt, 1,driving documents including vel, 1, hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1, musical instrument, 2, pipes/plumbing/guttering, 2, wine/champagne, 2

2013/14

• Cemetery Chapel: garden vacuum/blower, 2

• Christadelphian Church: personal stereo system including mp3 player 2,

• Holy Innocents Church: metal, 2

• Holy Trinity Church: hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1,

• Kinnerton Methodist Church: doors/gates including frame/post, glass, 2

• Pradoe Church: oil, 2

• Saint Andrews Church: garden ornaments/pots, 1

• Shawbury Parish Church: plants/trees/shrubs, 1

• Shrewsbury Cathedral: cash boxes/tills/safes/charity boxes/meters, 2

• St Andrews Church: monument/statue, 1

• St Chads Church: pedal cycle, 1

• St Georges Church: metal, 2

• St Giles Church: camera, 1, hedge trimmer,2, electrical audio/video, 2, mobile phone/phone charger, 1, oil, 2, fence/fencing materials, 2, tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2, cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card, 1, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1, driving documents including vel, 1, identification cards, 1, tickets, 1,wallet/purse/money belt, 1, documents, 1, pedal cycle accessories, 1, camera accessories including lenses, flash unit, case, tripod, film, 1, cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card, 1, driving documents including vel, 1, hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1, wallet/purse/money belt, 1

• St James Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 1

• St Johns Church: oil, 2

• St Lawrences Church: manual hydraulic loader/lift truck/sack truck, 2

• St Marks Church: pedal cycle, 1

• St Marys Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1

• St Marys Church Hall: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Marys the Virgin Church: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• The Chapel: drill/screwdriver, 1

• The Chapel Shifnal Manor Barns: brush cutter/strimmer, 1, oil,1, keys, 2

• The Grange Free Church: television & accessories, 4

• Trinity Methodist Church: antique metalware, 2

2014/15

• All Saints Church: audio/video tapes/cd's/dvd's/minidisc etc, 1, chainsaw, 1, crash helmet, 1, drill/screwdriver, 1, hedge trimmer, 1,knife/dagger/bayonet/sword/machete/axe, 1, pedal cycle, 1, pressure cleaner/power washer/jet washer, 1, quad bike/mobility scooter/go kart (powered), 1, saw/chopsaw/jigsaw, 1, saw/saw bench, 1, cash boxes/tills/safes/charity boxes/meters, 2, computer hardware, 2, cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card, 2, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1, diaries/filofax/personal organiser, 1,driving documents including vel 1, hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 1, identification cards 1, keys, 1, mobile phone/phone charger, 1, perfume/cosmetics/combs, 1, wallet/purse/money belt, 1, apostolic church signs/signboards/cones, 2,

• Church of St Chad: tiles/roof slates/lead flashing, 2

• Gobowen Methodist Church: fire blanket/fire extinguisher, 2

• Holy Trinity Church: documents, 2

• Methodist Church: engine/engine,vehicle parts, 2

• Old St Chads Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1

• Old St Chads Churchyard: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1

• St Andrews Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit,2

• St Chads Church: pedal cycle, 1

• St James Church: antique metalware, 2

• St John the Baptist Church: antique metalware, 2

• St Marys: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 1

• St Marys Bettws Y Crwyn Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Marys Church: cash boxes/tills/safes/charity boxes/meters, 4, drugs, 1, earrings/body piercings, 1, cash card/debit card/credit card/cheque card/store card, 4, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 4, garden tools (not power tools) including spade, trowel, hoe, wheelbarrow, pick, 2, hand luggage,including handbag,briefcase,shopping bag,rucksack,holdall,suitcase, 2, headstone, 1Hi-fi system/amplifiers/speakers etc inc for musical instruments, 1, keys, 2, lawn mower, 2, padlocks/locks/chains, 2, wallet/purse/money belt, 3,

• St Marys Rc Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Marys the Virgin Church, oil, 4

• St Peters Church, church ornaments, 2

• St Switheuns Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• Trinity Methodist Church: coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit, 2

• St Michaels & All Angels Church: antique metalware, 1, coin/notes including foreign, counterfeit 1