SUFFOLK Police are today appealing for information after a series of church break-ins in the Forest Heath area.They happened between January 3 and 14, 2007 in Barton Mills, Beck Row, Holywell Row and Mildenhall.

SUFFOLK Police are today appealing for information after a series of church break-ins in the Forest Heath area.

They happened between January 3 and 14, 2007 in Barton Mills, Beck Row, Holywell Row and Mildenhall.

The first occurred at St Mary's Church, Church Walk, Mildenhall, between 9pm on Wednesday, January 3 and 8am the following day, when an offender smashed a window and climbed in. An internal door was kicked off its hinges. Nothing was stolen.

The second happened at Baptist Chapel, The Street, Barton Mills, between 10.30am on Saturday, January 6 and 10am the following day, when an offender smashed two windows to enter the chapel and looked through cupboards. Nothing was stolen

The third occurred at St Mary's Church, The Street, Barton Mills, between 7.30pm on Saturday, January 6, and 7.45am the following day, when an offender has forced a padlock off the boiler room and smashed a window within to enter the church.

Cupboards were looked through and slats were broken off the heating vents. A ladder was taken from the boiler room and the offender climbed up to a window in the tower, which was smashed, the offender climbed in and used a key inside to open a safe and steal a small quantity of cash.

The next break-in happened at Methodist Church, The Street, Holywell Row, between 3.30pm on Wednesday, January 10, and 9.15am on Sunday, January 14, the vestry window was smashed and a safe opened. Nothing was stolen.

Methodist Church and hall, The Street, Beck Row, between 12.45pm on Thursday, January 11, and 8.20am Sunday, January 14, an offender smashed a window to enter the church.

Keys were taken from a cupboard, and the offender left by the main door. A cabinet was forced open in the church hall and a brown plastic box containing Playstation games and controllers was stolen.

Forest Heath district commander chief inspector Stuart Sedgwick said: “We have had success in the past with community intelligence helping us catch an offender, so any sightings of suspicious persons in relation to these incidents could prove just as valuable. I would urge anyone who may know anything which could help us to solve these crimes to come forward”.

Anyone with information about these incidents should call Suffolk Police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.