Church-goers leave beds behind to tackle copper thefts
21/11/2011
Several people have left their beds and mattresses behind in order to protect a church from metal thieves.
St Andrew's Church in Hornchurch, Essex, has been targeted ten times in five months, leading its vicar, an organist and eight parishioners to take matters into their own hands.
Reverend Barry Hobson told the Daily Telegraph that so much metal had been stolen from the roof of the church that it would take tens of thousands of pounds to replace.
He revealed that the church would have to raise the money itself to repair the roof, adding that "copper thefts have become so prevalent that insurance companies will only pay out about £5,000 a year".
In recent months, three priests were forced to get out of their beds to tackle an intruder at St Mary's Church, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
All of the men managed to restrain the intruder wearing their night gowns until police arrived on the scene.
Posted by Michael Ewing
