Vandals target Thetford church

Published: 1:08 PM October 6, 2006

Updated: 6:31 PM February 19, 2021

Police are stepping up their hunt for vandals, who have repeatedly targeted a Thetford church over the last six weeks. Officials at St Mary's Catholic Church, in Newtown, have reported six incidents of broken glass windows since August 20, which have caused a total of £20,000 worth of damage.

Police are stepping up their hunt for vandals, who have repeatedly targeted a Thetford church over the last six weeks.

Officials at St Mary's Catholic Church, in Newtown, have reported six incidents of broken glass windows since August 20, which have caused a total of £20,000 worth of damage.

As previously reported by the EDP, some of the attacks on the 19th century church have come during Sunday services whilst worshippers were in the building.

Fr Matthew George, who lives on site, said he was “frightened” and “upset” by the spate of vandalism, which appears to have been caused by local youths.

Police in Thetford have launched a fresh appeal for information and are stepping up patrols following the latest criminal damage, which happened overnight between September 24 and 25, when two large windows were smashed causing £5000 worth of damage.

PC Keith Kenny of the Thetford's Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “The church, which is a listed building, has sadly been targeted on numerous occasions by vandals. Its location is on a busy thoroughfare and would urge anyone with knowledge of those responsible for any of these incidents to contact us immediately.”