St Columba’s Church, Long Tower targeted by lead bandit thieves
POLICE are on the trail of thieves stole a large quantity of lead from a Derry church.
The theft at St Columba’s Church in Longtower Street was only discovered after clergy and lay people when they realised the roof was leaking after the bad weather over recent days.
Investigating officer Constable Morrison said: “When contractors went up onto the roof, they noted a large quantity of lead was missing.
“They state that a couple of Saturdays ago – about 7 November – they were informed some boys had been on the roof.”
This was one of several lead thefts from churches in the city in recent times.
Police received a report that in the early hours of Wednesday lead was taken from the roof of Nazareth House in Bishop Street.
Officers are trying to establish if the same gang was responsible for both thefts.
Anyone who has Information about who is behind the thefts is urged to ring police on the 101 non-emergency number.
Alternatively they can pass the information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.