Vicar blasts raiders for using child’s gravestone to smash into church
A vicar has blasted burglars who used a child's gravestone to smash down a church door and steal a charity box.
Rev. Roland Barnes revealed "morally empty" raiders used the memorial as a battering ram and caused more than £500 worth of damage.
Police are hunting the callous thieves who left with just a "few pence" from St David's Church in Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales.
Rev Barnes said the raiders used a piece of a child's gravestone to smash a steel-enforced window and get into the church.
He said: "It's rather ridiculous because they've done over £500 worth of damage to the church, just to steal a few pence from the charity box.
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"They smashed the window at the back of the church, which even had a strengthening steel bar across it.
"They used a piece of a child's gravestone to smash it. They then smashed the door into the body of the church.
"They used a fire extinguisher to small open a collection box placed where people can light candles for their loved ones. There can't have been much in it.
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"It's rather sad that people feel desperate enough to do things like that, unless they are totally morally empty. I wonder if they feel any remorse or guilt.
"We are insured but we have a £500 excess. So whatever happens, we're going to be £500 out of pocket, just for a few pence."
He said there had been a spate of thefts in the area, adding: "I suspect it makes people a bit more cautious about locking their doors."
A spokesman for North Wales Police said: "Sometime between 12.30pm on Sunday, 9 February 2020 and 5.15pm Monday, 10 February, unknown person(s) have smashed a lead window at the rear of St David's Church, Blaenau Ffestiniog.
"[They] entered the locked church where they have smashed a small cash box used to collect donations from church goers.
"A substantial amount of damage has been caused by the offender(s) in gaining entry into the church and anyone with any information is asked to contact us."
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