Thieves steal lead from Derry church twice this month
Kilfennan Presbyterian Church in the Waterside area of the city was targeted again by thieves earlier this week.
Rev Russell Edgar said more than £1,700 worth of lead has been taken from the church roof on two separate occasions.
“We’re disappointed and we want to know why we are the target and why they feel it’s necessary to steal something from a church,” he told BBC Radio Foyle.
Rev Russel Edgar said the church may be seen “as a soft target” to criminals.
“The first [theft] was on the 1st of March and then again on the 28th March, we have also had our wheelie bin stolen and we are assuming that it was used to transport the stolen lead,” he said.
“We are there to help the community as much as we can and that £1,700 that we are now having to spend on the roof to make the building more water-tight could have been used to help the community.”
Rev Edgar said the theft is “very disappointing for people” and said the church is now exploring ways to ensure sure they are not a targeted again in the future, such as security cameras and lighting.
The police have said they are investigating the theft of lead from the church.
The theft is believed to have happened sometime between 9 pm on Monday and 7 pm on Tuesday of this week.
They have appealed for anyone who has been offered lead for sale in suspicious circumstances to contact them on the 101 number.
Or they contact Crimestopper anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111.
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