Callous burglars snatch church donations and damage property

Church leaders have hit out at those responsible, saying the damage has come at the busiest time of year. St Bartholomew's Church in Church Hill was targeted last Wednesday.

Thieves broke in and made off with a CD player and coins from the donations bowl. But before leaving they also smashed up the church's amplifier and mixing desk.

Just weeks earlier the church hall suffered a break-in.

Rev Tim Vasby-Burnie said the damage caused in the latest incident has come at one of the worst possible times of year.

"With all the Christmas services coming up it is a real hassle for us to be fixing the sound system at a time when we are trying to get people in and bring people together.

"We had two funerals the following day, one with over 100 people. It was very awkward to have no working sound system. I had to bellow an awful lot.

"The system was still broken for our Sunday service so those with hearing loops were unable to use them."

Rev Vasby-Burnie was first made aware of the theft and vandalism by the church warden, who had gone to lock the church's metal gates at around 4pm on Wednesday.

The main wooden doors had been badly damaged and the sound system 'pulled to pieces."

But other than the CD player and the one and two pence coins, nothing had been taken.

"Thankfully none of our ornaments were taken," he said.

"It looks as if they had tried to tear the sound system apart to see if there were components they could take away, but it does seem as if it is all still there, but far from any fit state to be used."

In the church hall incident on November 16, entry was again forced through the main doors and toasters, a microwave and a CD player were all stolen.

The damage comes as the church continues in its efforts to raise £25,000 to repair its 99-year-old stained glass window, said to be a unique depiction of the coming of Christianity to Wednesbury.

Police said a 40-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the latest burglary.