THIEVES made off with cash registers and a safe, after breaking into St Peter’s Church in Wrecclesham during the early hours of Tuesday, October 25.

“We have all been left with a feeling of great sadness following the break in, damage and theft from St Peter’s,” said Rev Canon Anne Gell.

“It’s a lovely church but, like so many, requires regular upkeep and maintenance and the generosity of our local church community in both funds and time is absolutely vital.

“St Peter’s Church is important to many people, not only as a sacred place of prayer and reflection, but also as a significant landmark for the wider community, and this crime has been felt deeply in our community, far more than the criminals who perpetrated it would ever think.

“Fortunately, modern funding is much safer than in the past and the majority of the church’s money is donated online and there is very little cash involved and when there is, it does not remain in the church.

“If anyone has any information, however small, that might help with the investigation then I would urge them to get in touch with the police as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information should contact Surrey Police by reporting it online at www.surrey.police.uk and quoting reference 45160094132.