A thief was caught on CCTV making the sign of the cross on himself - before swiping a treasured lamp from a church.
The callous crook can be clearly seen crossing his chest before his accomplice walks up to the altar in St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Birmingham, and swipes the 116-year-old artefact.
Parish Priest Father Harry Curtis was left horrified when he realised the lamp had been stolen - but was sickened when he witnessed the thief making the religious gesture before stealing the lamp.
Father Curtis said: 'We are all saddened and angry about what's happened.The lamp was quite valuable in monetary terms, but more importantly, it is of huge religious and sentimental significance to the parish. I couldn't believe my eyes when I watched the CCTV footage and saw this man pause to cross himself before he took it. It is very upsetting. As a church, our doors are open to all people every day, whenever they need us. Locking the doors is just not an option.'Ann Byrne, chair of the church's finance committee, said: 'I was absolutely horrified when I saw the CCTV. The fact that the man crossed himself means he knew what he was doing, and recognised the importance of what was being stolen. That makes it so much worse for us. It's awful.'
The one-and-a-half foot lamp was believed to have been at the church, in the Winson Green area of Birmingham, since it was first built in 1895.
The church has been targeted several times by thieves in the last twelve months - after a brass candle stand was stolen and thieves also tried to grab candlesticks from the back of the altar.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: 'We are appealing for information following a theft from a church in the city earlier this month.'Officers were informed on 4 October of a theft that had taken place at St Patrick's Church on Dudley Road, Winson Green.
'Offenders entered the premises at around 10.30am and took a silver sanctuary candle holder from the church.
'Both offenders have then left the area on foot.'