Welcome to your local community website...
Fourth Chesham church robbed
CALLOUS thieves smashed their way into Hivings Free Church last week - the fourth church in Chesham to be broken into this year.
Overnight of Tuesday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 22, offenders broke a window on the side of the church, in Upper Belmont Road, and stole a laptop and power point projector up the value of £1,000.
The theft is a blow for the church who are in the process of recruiting a new minister who they hope to have in place by September.
Albert Richardson, church secretary, said members reacted with sadness when the news was broken to them at a special service on Sunday.
He said: "We have an activity group first thing on Wednesday morning and when they came in in the morning they noticed that a window had been smashed around the back.
"They opened a cupboard and saw that a laptop and overhead projector had been stolen.
"We are just so shocked. We are a small, community church and things have been going well for us lately.
"Everyone has been on such a high lately but this has just knocked us all. A church is a sacred place and it feels like such a smack in the teeth."
It is the latest church theft in Chesham beginning in February when the United Reformed Church, in The Broadway, had a laptop, cash, and a projector system stolen.
Later the same day at Christ Church, in Waterside, offenders broke a skylight and attempted to break into the church's ornbury - a locked box where sacraments are kept for emergency use including giving last rites.
Emmanuel Church, in Broad Street, was broken into in April and saw an overhead projector, CD player and LCD monitors stolen.
Mr Richardson said: "I actually feel sorry for the people who are committing these crimes as they must be really desperate.
"Churches in Chesham, like ourselves, are doing their upmost to update facilities and equipment and sadly this seems to have made us more of a target for these thieves."
Anyone who has any information should call police on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
We'd like to hear from you. Send your stories, pics and videos
Older/Newer
« Fallen soldiers inspire Chesham poet | Planning applications: Chesham »

Leave a comment