Coppers called in a downpipe robbery
Priest annoyed by money and time spent to repair church
A GOLD Coast priest says “nothing is sacred anymore” after thieves stole copper pipes at his church in a series of burglaries.
The thefts, which police confirmed occurred across various dates between December and January, have prompted the St Peter’s Anglican Church at Southport to boost security patrols and CCTV.
Father Don Parker said the thieves had taken off with copper pipes, forcing the church to put in temporary measures in case of heavy rain.
Police said an unknown number of offenders jumped a fence and stole three copper downpipes between December 27 and 29.
They tried to take another two pipes but were unsuccessful.
A short time later on January 16 thieves again jumped a gate and used an instrument, possibly a grinder, to cut through and steal three more copper pipes, believed to have just been replaced.
A further five were taken from the exterior of the building on January 22.
“Most people are flabbergasted that people can do this to a church,” Fr Parker said. “I feel the same.
“I think it’s a great shame that nothing is sacred anymore.
“We’re still in the process of replacing (the pipes). We’re about three incidents behind, because every time we turn around there were more gone. We’ve had to increase our security, we’ve had to increase our camera coverage.
We’ve had to take a number of measures to try and stop this, what I call flagrant theft of our simple downpipe system.
“(It’s come as) an expense and an inconvenience because, of course, we’ve had quite a lot of heavy rain in the last few weeks.
“We’ve had to be very careful to put in temporary measures to ensure there has been no flooding.”
Fr Parker said “copper thieves” were always around but before this spate of burglaries they had not been affected in some years.
Police have come out to the church and taken fingerprints from the scene.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444.
WE’RE ABOUT THREE INCIDENTS BEHIND, BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND THERE WERE MORE GONE. FATHER DON PARKER