Anger after theft of oil from Saintfield church

Anger after theft of oil from Saintfield church

28 March 2012 - by David Telford

THIEVES have stolen 4,000 litres of heating oil from Saintfield Parish Church.

The oil — worth an estimated £2,500 — was stolen from two separate tanks servicing the church and nearby halls sometime on Monday of last week.

Church officials and local politicians are angry at what happened and have appealed to homeowners, churches and community groups to take steps to secure their respective oil tanks.

Church spokesman Mr. William Drury, revealed the theft was discovered after leaders of the playgroup who use the church hall reported last Tuesday morning that the heat wasn’t working.

Mr. Drury, who went to the hall, initially thought something had happened to the timing clock on the heating system. But he soon discovered that both oil tanks had been drained.

“I noticed some oil on the floor about 30 metres from one of the tanks and an inspection of both revealed that they had been drained,” he explained.

“It is clear that a tanker would probably have been required to hold the amount of oil drained from the tanks. It is also possible the oil could have been drained into a number of tanks placed on a trailer.”

Mr. Drury said it was fortunate holes weren’t drilled in either tank to siphon the oil and revealed church officials plan to take steps to secure both tanks. He said consideration is being given to encasing the tanks with concrete blocks or replacing them with tanks made from steel.

“This is the first time oil has been stolen from the church and it wasn’t until we reported what happened to police that we realised just how common this particular crime is,” he added.

Strangford Assemblyman Simon Hamilton described the oil theft as an “absolutely appalling crime” and said he and many others will be disgusted that people would sink so low.

“The Saintfield church is serving people right across the community, yet the immoral individuals responsible for this crime gave no thought to the cost or consequences of their atrocious actions,” he declared.

“I would appeal to anyone who may know something about this crime or noticed suspicious activity in the vicinity of the church to contact police as I fear these criminals will strike again somewhere else.”