Rev Steve Lillicrap
outside St Mary's Church, Teynham, where thieves stolen lead from
the roof twice in just one weekend

The scale of attacks on Kent churches
by metal thieves can be revealed today.

As many as 132 places of worship in
the county have had metal stolen from their roofs in a year.

Religious leaders are now urging
people to be vigilant to the lucrative thefts.

Figures obtained from Kent Police show cases of metal theft from
Kent churches in the year to December are spread across the
county.

Click here for our interactive graphic showing Kent's annual £2.7million metal theft bill

North Kent is worst affected, with 21 thefts in Medway, 14 in
Swale, seven in Dartford and five in Gravesham.

In west Kent, there were 14 church
metal thefts in Sevenoaks, 11 in Tunbridge Wells, 11 in Tonbridge
and Malling and five in Maidstone.

And in east Kent, Canterbury had 13
cases, Ashford 10, Dover 10, Shepway six and Thanet five.

The Rev Steve Lillicrap warned people
to be alert after his church - St Mary's, in Teynham - fell victim
to metal thieves twice in one weekend.

He said: "I feel very sad that anyone
would want to come and desecrate a place of worship, apart from the
nuisance of having to get it sorted and the damage it causes to the
church building itself.

"Our church buildings are full of history and I feel when the
lead is taken that is being taken too."

Mr Lillicrap added: "Keep an eye out for untoward activity -
people on roofs who look like they're on official business, but are
actually just stripping the lead and walking away with it.

"I would ask people to keep an eye out to help
protect our public buildings."

Kent Police said it has worked with archdeacons to ensure
security advice is included in church newsletters and wardens are
aware of crime prevention measures.

Most churches in Kent have been provided with free smartwater
solution to help protect the buildings.

A Kent Police spokesman said officers recently distributed 8,000
metal theft leaflets into church communities.