CHURCHES in Popley and Chineham have been rocked after thieves targeted three different buildings in two days.

St Gabriel’s Church, in Tewkesbury Close, was broken into in the early hours of the morning of Thursday last week.

The thieves damaged the church building itself when entering and made off with a large, pre-war safe, which contained a number of valuables, including items of silver and money.

The safe itself weighted three quarters of a ton, and was locked away inside the church.

The safe was found over the course of last weekend in Chineham Business Park, however, the lock to the safe had been burnt out and the contents, which included marriage registers and cash bound for charity, irreparably damaged.

The thieves had cut through the back with what appears to be an angle grinder, and the sparks from the machine lit up the inside of the safe.

On the same night, a further incident was reported at St Bede’s Church, in Popley Way, where two people attempted to force their way into the church building through a window at 1.17am.

Their attempts to get in were unsuccessful, and nothing was taken.

The next night, between 10pm on June 14 and 7am on June 15, a third church was targeted.

Burglaries also forced open several doors of Christ Church, in Reading Road, Chineham, to get into the church’s office, where a a safe was stolen.

Rev’d Arthur Botham, vicar of St Gabriel’s Church, said: “We are deeply saddened that the church and the community here has been targeted in this way.

“St Gabriel’s is not just an active church but also a vibrant community hub that serves the whole area, and I know that people throughout the community will be shocked by this news.

“I want to reassure everyone that the church remains open, services are going ahead as usual and all are welcome.

“We are working closely with the police as they carry out their investigation into the break in and I would urge anyone with information to come forward.”

Rev'd Arthur was going to meet for morning prayer at the church, when one of the group meeting there told him that the safe was missing.

Rev'd Arthur added: "I thought it was a joke to start, the safe is as big as a tumble drier with inches thick steel.

"We discovered that whoever had got in via a side fire door into our new extension. I don't know how they could have possibly done it without multiple strong people. It's either that or they have somehow mastered levitiation, as there were no tracks.

"The safe was an antique, and almost a relic to me, but my initial concern was as to whether anyone was hurt, which thankfully there wasn't. We have had terrific support from the Diocese of Winchester, which has been really good for support.

"Now I am dealing with the pastoral aspects, like reassuring our older members, which is most important.

"We have prayed for the building, and we have prayed for them."

Police are looking to speak to anyone who might have seen any suspicious activity in the Popley and Chineham areas near the churches on the respective nights.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police on 101, quoting the reference 44190203952.