Southend church cash stolen by heartless couple (From Southend Standard)

Southend church cash stolen by heartless couple

8:00am Friday 24th February 2012 in Southend By Christine Sexton

A HEARLTLESS couple distracted a vicar in order to steal a collection jar, containing £100.

The pair, in their twenties, went to All Saints Church, in Sutton Road, Southend, shortly before the Rev Neil Paxton was due to hold a service.

The woman asked for the toilet, while her accomplice struck.

Mr Paxton said: “We had a large glass jar, the type you keep plants in, and people had been putting their loose change in it.

“It was chained to a table.

“The wardens were busy getting ready for a service, and in the two minutes it took me to show this woman to the toilet, the man had used a can opener to cleave the chain off. He left the tin opener behind.

“It happened at the very moment I was distracted, so it was well planned.”

So far, the church has collected £32,000 towards the £100,000 it needs for refurbishment. Work will start soon on repointing the building’s brickwork shortly after Easter.

This will be followed by building two new vestries, a new kitchen area, disabled toilets and access and new lighting.

Mr Paxton added: “Many people don’t have much money at the moment, but they had been putting what they have into that fund.

“These people exploited the fact the church is open to people to come in.

“Many in the congregation are upset at the thought people can be so heartless they can steel from the Church, which is a charity. We hope the improvements we are planning will enable the community to use our premises more effectively for its neediest members.”

He added: “This uncaring act of selfishness will in no way dampen our enthusiasm or determination to carry on with the project.

“As Christians we are charged to forgive, but that doesn’t mean we have to forget.”

The couple were both white. The man wore denim and the woman was in a brown coat.

Anyone with information on Saturday morning’s theft can call Southend police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.