'I just despair': Raiders target food bank items in break in at theft hit Wednesbury church

arishioners at a church in Wednesbury have been left 'devastated' by a break in during which items including those collected for a food bank were stolen.

The break in happened at St Luke's Church. Elwell Street, Mesty Croft, and was the third incident this year.

The congregation were told of the break in at the regular Sunday service - the church and that of neighbouring St Bartholmew’s are now led by Canon Dr Taiwo Olumuyiwa, who only joined from a Bushbury parish just after Easter.

Amongst the items taken were musical instruments, a sandwich toaster, a vacuum cleaner, a vase, two bottles of communion wine, coffee, chocolate, shortbread and biscuits and milk.

But longstanding worshipper Janette Barker said it was the items for the foodbank which would cause most upset - she spent most of the weekend clearing up and liaising with the police.

She said: “I just despair! So much hate, greed, and selfishness in the world let alone the country. We've estimated that the donations to the food bank could total anything like £100 to £150.”

After posting it on the Facebook page, parishioners and supporters of the parish commented, with Robert Yardley saying: "Absolutely disgraceful to hear this awful news. St Luke’s Team do fantastic work and do not deserve to have to put up with this. Let us hope the persons responsible are caught as soon as possible.”

Beryl Glover said; "Oh no! Not again!" and Simon Hackett said "This is awful I am so sorry to read this.”

The church was last targeted at the end of March on successive nights when items including a brown gorilla gazebo, the church projector and some slimming world bars were taken.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We're investigating a burglary at a church in Elwell Street, Wednesbury.

“It's understood to have happened between midnight on Friday and 7am on Saturday and a number of items were taken.”

Anyone with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website, or by calling 101, and quote 20/250684/26.