Donations snatched from churches

A donation box was raided at St Michael and All Angels Church

Donation boxes have been broken open and raided at a string of churches across Cornwall.

Churches have been attacked at St Tudy, St Mabyn, St Teath, St Clether, North Petherwin, Caerhays and Mount Hawke.

On some occasions, raiders have broken into the buildings. In one instance, the thief appeared to have slept in the church and left behind a beer can.

Canon Pat Robson of St Michael and All Angels Church, Caerhays, said church thefts were becoming "a fact of life".

Open doors

The donation box was forced open at the church and an unknown quantity of cash stolen.

Canon Robson said: "Sadly this sort of thing has become a fact of life.

"It is a shame that these things happen and we just take it on the chin and say, 'That's what life is like these days'.

"In our grandfathers' age no-one would have thought about stealing from a church."

She added: "We never get a lot in the boxes, but they are ways of showing appreciation by visitors, so it is more of a kick in the teeth to them."

She said it would not affect the diocese's policy of keeping churches open.

"We want the church to be open for everyone, but we shall have to be a little bit more careful," she said.