'BRAZEN' thieves have struck a village church in North Oxfordshire stealing lead from its roof.
St Michael and All Angels Church in Fringford, near Bicester, was one of the latest to fall foul to the theft.
Thames Valley Police said thieves fled with the rooftop lead and warned others to be vigilant.
Bicester Rural team would like to remind residents, to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity at or near churches. Unfortunately St,Michael Church Fringford recently fell foul to brazen thieves that stole the lead from the roof. Any info to crime report 43190154554. pic.twitter.com/VwxzuyaPZb
— TVP_Bicester (@TVP_Bicester) May 24, 2019
It is believed to have happened in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A post about the theft to Bicester General Chat (No Advertisements) Facebook Page prompted a string of reports from other residents that the Fringford church was not the only site to be targeted.
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Reports suggested Marsh Gibbon St Mary the Virgin Church was also struck, as well as St Leonard's Church in Grendon Underwood just over the border also had lead stolen from its roof.
These subsequent reports of thefts have not been confirmed by police, and it is not known if they are linked to the Fringford church theft.
It follows reports last month of lead thefts from churches across the county including St Mary’s Church in Garsington and All Saints’ Church in Cuddesdon, both near Oxford.
At the time a spokeswoman for the Oxford Diocese said since the middle of the year 18 village churches had lead ripped from their roofs by criminal gangs.
Anyone with information relating to the theft at St Michael and All Angels Church is to contact police on 101 with reference 43190154554
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