Thefts and Damage Resulted in Restricted Visiting Times in Stonehouse Church

Case information
Incident date
Country
United Kingdom
Place
Stonehouse
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Theft
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Time/Place/Location
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Dave Kelly, CC BY-SA 2.0 via geograph.org (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)

Unknown vandals entered the kitchen of St Cyr's church in Stonehouse, breaking and damaging a serving hatch and stealing a fire extinguisher. As a result of a series of petty thefts, church managers made the decision to close the building when it is not being used for religious services or other social gatherings.

Pastor of St Cyr Church, Richard Hensley, commented: "It really is a small vandalism offence, but it has been reported to the police.". "We had to put a lock on the kitchen door as people were pilfering out of the kitchen anyhow. They have broken the serving hatch to the kitchen which is a shame, and now we will be closing the doors when no services are taking place until the work has been completed.”

He also added: "If the people who stole the fire extinguisher a few weeks ago could return it, we would be grateful".

Sources: Gloucester Hire Live and Stroud News

Sources