Sick thieves raid Paisley church during service
Laptop and bag stolen
Cops are hunting callous crooks who raided a Paisley church in the middle of a service.
Yobs stole a church laptop and other items as unsuspecting worshippers gathered in the pews of St Matthew’s Church.
A 56-year-old church chaplin left his backpack in the vestry at around 6.30pm on Sunday and returned the following the evening service to find it missing.
Police say a number of sentimental items were taken during the sneak-in theft at Gordon Street, which the owner is now desperate to have returned.
A laptop computer belonging to the church was also taken during the theft.
The cruel incident was only reported to the police on Thursday, and officers have now launched an investigation to trace the louts responsible.
Inspector Tracy Harkins, from Paisley’s community policing team, appealed for witnesses to the shocking incident to contact police.
She said: “A backpack, laptop and other sentimental items belonging to the 56- year- old male chaplin of the St Matthew’s Church in Gordon Street, Paisley, were stolen during a service on Sunday night.
“A laptop computer belonging to the church was also taken.
“The items had been stored in the church vestry during a service and when it ended, the theft was discovered.
“The incident was subsequently reported to the police.
“This is despicable crime, which involved sneaking into the church while people were worshipping and taking items of property with both sentimental and monetary value.
“If you saw anyone acting suspiciously near to St Matthew’s Church in Gordon Street between 6.30pm and 7.50pm on Sunday evening then I would urge you to get in touch.
“If you saw anyone leaving carrying a back pack or laptop bag then we would like to hear from you.”
If you have any information, you should contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.