POLICE believe lead stolen from a church which will cost £50,000 to replace was by a gang of professional thieves.

Thieves struck overnight on Sunday, June 13 at St Albans Church in Frant, near Tunbridge Wells, stealing a “significant amount” of lead from the roof.

The value of the lead, combined with the cost to replace and complete the repairs, is expected to be nearly £50,000 for the 200 year old church.

Sussex Police believe the theft is connected to another lead theft in Lewes recently, as well as another church targeted in Kent.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Metal thefts of this kind not only have a financial value, but also hugely affect our cultural heritage and local communities.

The Argus: St Saviour's Church in Colgate, near Horsham, has been targeted by metal thieves beforeSt Saviour's Church in Colgate, near Horsham, has been targeted by metal thieves before

“Such is the scale of this offence, it is believed to have been committed by criminals who operate across the UK as part of an organised crime group.

“The rural crime team are leading the investigation in Sussex, working with The Diocese of Chichester and Ecclesiastical Insurance to ensure the appeal for witnesses and support is spread as wide as possible.

“The investigation is likely to be linked to another significant lead theft in Lewes recently, as well as another church targeted in Chiddingstone in Kent.

“While the investigation continues, we are busy working with partners to help protect St Albans and other historic buildings from being targeted.

“If you have any information that may support the investigation, then please contact us quoting reference 0551 of 13/06.”

The Argus: Sussex Police at the church in FrantSussex Police at the church in Frant

Last November, a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request to Sussex Police revealed that 367 crimes have been committed at churches in Sussex from August 2020 to August 2021.

Sussex was the county with the highest number of crimes in religious buildings outside of London for the second year in a row.

Of the 367 crimes at churches, cemeteries and crematoriums, 54 were thefts, 106 cases of criminal damage and 44 cases of violence.

The country saw more than 100 lead thefts in the same 12 month time period.

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: “We are presented with a grim reality that many churches and places of worship are being treated as easy targets by criminals.

“These are supposed to be places where people go to seek solace, but all too often they subjected to heinous crimes, either in or on their property.”