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.