HEARTLESS thieves posed as guests at a church function before stealing thousands of pounds worth of valuables.
Detectives branded the villains 'mean' following the raid at Methodist Central Hall, on Oldham Street, in Manchester city centre.
The burglars hid themselves in the church when it was locked up and, according to police, 'ran amok inside the empty building'
They damaged doors and stole a safe, electrical equipment, guitars, microphones and mixing desks, said to be worth thousands of pounds.
Police believe they got into a taxi on Oldham Street to make their escape.
They have appealed for the driver to get in touch.
Chf Insp Nicola Spragg said: "This is a mean offence, committed against a building which is there to serve the community.
"Whoever did this has shown a complete lack of respect for the people who look after and trust people to use the church.
"The people who attend the church are now left without equipment and instruments which they, no doubt, raised money to buy.
"I would appeal to anyone who has any information about the burglary or anyone who may have been offered any items of property for sale to call police."
Anyone with information on the raid on thursday night should call police on 0161 856 3240 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Laura Norder, Didsbury (27/10/2008 at 12:29)
They are stealing to facilitate their lifestyle as drug addicts, but it is we, the law-abiding, who are the genuine victims of drug addiction.
Forget rehabilitation.
It would be infinitely cheaper (for society), to prescribe any drug of choice to those that wish to spend their time in a haze of chemical-induced stupors.