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| Thief steals from choir during Northampton church service | Thief steals from choir during Northampton church service |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A churchgoer broke into a choir room and stole from musicians as they took part in a Sunday service. | A churchgoer broke into a choir room and stole from musicians as they took part in a Sunday service. |
| The rector of All Saints' Church in Northampton said mobile phones, bank cards, cash and a laptop were taken, causing "no small amount of distress." | The rector of All Saints' Church in Northampton said mobile phones, bank cards, cash and a laptop were taken, causing "no small amount of distress." |
| A Facebook post showed a CCTV image of the man, who is said to have forced a locked door, shortly after he "accepted a hymnbook and a warm welcome." | A Facebook post showed a CCTV image of the man, who is said to have forced a locked door, shortly after he "accepted a hymnbook and a warm welcome." |
| A nine-year-old choirgirl was among five people to have belongings taken. | A nine-year-old choirgirl was among five people to have belongings taken. |
| Northamptonshire Police said it was investigating the theft, which happened at the church in George Row just after 10:30 BSTon Sunday. | |
| Father Oliver Coss said: "The man, who moments before had been sitting among the assembled congregation in the nave, having accepted a hymnbook and a warm welcome, ascended the steps, forced the locked door to the choir room and set about thieving from our musicians. | Father Oliver Coss said: "The man, who moments before had been sitting among the assembled congregation in the nave, having accepted a hymnbook and a warm welcome, ascended the steps, forced the locked door to the choir room and set about thieving from our musicians. |
| "We have a commitment to being an open church and do not shut our doors simply because of incidents like this. | "We have a commitment to being an open church and do not shut our doors simply because of incidents like this. |
| "Our general experience is, in any case, that locked doors do not deter the determined and desperate criminal." | "Our general experience is, in any case, that locked doors do not deter the determined and desperate criminal." |
| He added repairs were being carried out and all stolen belongings would be replaced. | He added repairs were being carried out and all stolen belongings would be replaced. |
| In May, a chalice donated to a church by a mother and father in memory of their son who was killed in World War One was stolen from the church ahead of a service. | In May, a chalice donated to a church by a mother and father in memory of their son who was killed in World War One was stolen from the church ahead of a service. |