HEARTLESS thieves have stolen around £2,000 worth of oil from a Vale of Clwyd church.
St Sadwrn in Henllan was first targeted in April by a group of thieves or an individual who emptied the church and church institutes oil tank.
Henllan is well known locally for its unusual parish church with the tower built separated from the main building and the institute building is used daily by many groups like the guides, brownies, the WI and the gardening club not just the church.
Sue Rumbold, a church warden for over four years said this is the first time the church has been targeted.
She said: "The tanks are outside and away from houses and so they are easy to get to without people seeing."
The incident was reported to the police and a few weeks later a heating engineer discovered the church oil tank had also been completely drained.
Mrs Rumbold said someone will have drained it by taking the plastic lid of the 5ft green containers and using some sort of pipe or hose.
The oil tanks cost around £1,000 to fill up and so criminals have drained the church of nearly £2,000 by emptying the two tanks which is raised by generous donations to the church.
"We were furious its such an expensive commodity oil.
"We got the police involved straight away but there's not a lot they could do."
The church has always run of oil to power their central heating and so now groups using the institute and the church have not had heating for two months.
Mrs Rumbold said they will not be buying anymore oil until the winter months incase it is stolen again.
"We will buy another supply in Winter and will just have to be extra vigilant."
A Diocesan spokeswoman said: "We understand that other churches have reported similar losses. The Police say that there is little we can do to stop this happening, but have asked that we are all extra vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity to them."
Henllan county councillor Jane Yorke said the crime was very disappointing and a sad reflection on society.
"I think its appaling that anybody would steal and to steal from the community in that way it's truly shocking.
"Somebody out there does know who it is and it's very sad people are condoning it as people have family or friends that might be aware and really can they condone that sort of behaviour."
The councillor urged residents to report any suspicious behaviour and note down new vehicle registrations plates around the vicinity and to contact local police or councillors.