School and church raided in double burglary (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cricklade school and church raided in double burglary

5:30pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Laura Shack

A COMMUNITY has been left in shock after a church and school was ransacked in a double burglary.

Break-ins were reported to have taken place just minutes apart at St Sampson’s Parish Church and Prior Park Preparatory School, between 11pm and midnight on Friday, January 4.

In both cases, doors were forced open and safes raided.

Police believe the two burglaries could be connected, but are keeping an open mind while investigations continue.

St Sampson’s Church was the worst hit with around £80 stolen in cash from a safe in a locked vestry, including offerings from the Wednesday morning service.

A dog walker alerted the Reverend Shirley Danby and her husband Brian to the burglary after he spotted a man, described as being in his 20s, coming out of the west door of the church at around 11.45pm.

Churchwarden Adina Grace said: “It’s been a shock that someone would do that to a church. It’s upset the congregation and the Cricklade community, who support it greatly.

“Nothing seems to be sacred any more.”

At Prior Park Preparatory School, an office was turned upside down and a safe was broken into. However, the school has not yet reported anything as missing.

Wiltshire police have appealed for anyone with information relating to either burglary to call 101, quoting incident numbers 0005 and 0115 of January 5.