Church thieves come up short

All Saints Anglican Church parishioners were relieved yesterday to hear that a break-in at their Hokitika church had not jeopardised Sunday services.
Police were called after a burglary was reported on Wednesday, during which thieves caused hundreds of dollars worth of damage — only to snatch a few packets of toilet paper.
Lay minister Colin Hartwig said that thankfully the offenders did not break into the church proper and nothing of significance was stolen, but the damaged caused by the break-in had been assessed as amounting to $500.
“They broke a window in the women’s toilets to get in and kicked in two wooden doors, one leading to the organ blower shed and one to an old toilet block that we don’t use anymore.”
Mr Hartwig said the thieves got any with several rolls of toilet tissue and some floral arrangements from the lounge annex.