Thieves use brute force to carry off wicker angel statue

A STRIKING statue of an angel has been stolen from outside a church in the Jewellery Quarter, just 12 hours after being erected.

The 6ft tall wicker angel was taken from outside St Paul’s Church in St Paul’s Square at around 7pm on Thursday, June 20. Two men wearing high-visibility vests are thought to have been involved. It is hoped people who use the churchyard as a cut-through route for the Jewellery Quarter may have witnessed it being uprooted and carted away.

Luke Crane, executive director of the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust, said: “They just used brute force to rip it out. Many of the flowers were damaged so the council had to remove them. No one challenged them, apart from a rough sleeper who alerted nearby doormen at Jam House across the road who then, in turn, called me.”

An artist was commissioned by Birmingham City Council’s parks department to create the intricately woven wicker angel for the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District. It cost £500.

“It’s the fifth year running we’ve put up wicker displays around the Jewellery Quarter with money from business improvement funding, which local businesses contribute to,” said Mr Crane. “The installations are always a really nice focal point in the area and people often stop to take pictures and selfies.

“And it’s the first time someone has stolen a display. Effectively, all 700 of these businesses have been robbed. Obviously, it is not a 999 emergency but it’s very depressing.

“I doubt we will get it back but we’re sure someone must know something. It will be hard to hide the angel so we’re urging anyone who may have seen anything to please get in touch.”

Anyone with any information can email the Jewellery Quarter Business Business Improvement District at info@jqdt.org or call 0121 233 2814.