An outspoken vicar says he would like to see the heads of thieves who stole valuable lead from the roof of his historic church stuck on stakes.
The Rev Jim Field made the controversial comment after £20,000 of the metal was snatched from St George’s in Ivychurch, Romney Marsh, this week.
He told Kent on Sunday: “I know as a vicar I should not be saying this, but if they catch whoever did this, I want their heads on stakes outside.
“I can’t believe this church has been attacked again.
“In this latest attack we have lost lead worth £20,000 and because we had it specially marked the insurance company will only pay out its maximum of £5,000.
“That means we now have to find all the extra money from somewhere else.
“I used to be at a church in north Kent and that was hit by arson. We have also lost peg tiles from a porch recently.
“I know as a man of the cloth I shouldn’t be asking for heads on stakes, but that is what I think.”
According to the national church insurer Ecclesiastical, lead thefts accounted for 2,500 claims last year worth a total of about £9 million.
In 2005 just 80 claims, worth a total of £300,000 were made.
Kent Police’s crime reduction project manager Julie Argent said: “The number of metal thefts tends to fluctuate with the price of metals.
“Last year the increasing price of metal in overseas markets led to an increase in theft of metals in the UK for its scrap value.
“What we are seeing now with the current recession and the slowing down of the building industry is a fall in metal prices.
“Consequently we are not seeing as many incidents involving metal thefts as at this time last year.”
Mrs Argent’s comments will do nothing to calm the mood of Mr Field, who is also vicar of the nearby St Clement’s Church that had £50 of lead stolen from its windows earlier this month.
Mr Field said: “We just can’t understand a society that lets this happen. It has really damaged these amazing windows and for what? A few quid for stolen lead.”
At St George’s, police believe the thieves used ladders to reach the roof and that the lead may have been loaded into a vehicle parked by the front wall.
Ecclesiastical spokesman Chris Pitt said vicars could improve security at their churches by cutting back bushes, and asking people to regularly walk through the grounds or installing CCTV cameras.
He added that all Anglican churches had been provided with forensic SmartWater kits that leave an indefinite mark when they come into contact with people’s skin and clothes.
Mr Pitt said: “Metal theft is a serious concern and no church is safe.”
Anyone with information about the theft at St George’s can contact police on 01303 289180 or Kent CrimeStoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.
POSTED: 21/06/2009 09:00:00
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