MORE than 4000 churches in England and Wales have suffered metal thefts in the past three years, new research suggests.The figures show a decline in the number of thefts, however,from 2335 in 2011, to 545 in 2013.
Thieves also targeted more than 5000 schools in the same period.
The survey was conducted by Liberal Democrats in the London borough of Southwark after a number of metal thefts in their own area, including the theft of a Barbara Hepworth sculpture worth £500,000.