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| Bible thief steals ancient books | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A thief has been sneaking into country churches and stealing ancient bibles from under the noses of worshippers, police said. | |
| Eight antique bibles have been stolen from churches in Hampshire, including a rare example from the 18th Century. | Eight antique bibles have been stolen from churches in Hampshire, including a rare example from the 18th Century. |
| The bible went missing from St Mary The Virgin Church in Church Lane, Twyford, near Winchester, at the end of April. | The bible went missing from St Mary The Virgin Church in Church Lane, Twyford, near Winchester, at the end of April. |
| The original had been displayed in a glass case, but the thief replaced it with a fake. | The original had been displayed in a glass case, but the thief replaced it with a fake. |
| Shortly afterwards, and only nine miles away, seven leather-bound volumes of the Old and New Testament were stolen from a cabinet at St John's Church in Farley Chamberlayne, near Romsey. | Shortly afterwards, and only nine miles away, seven leather-bound volumes of the Old and New Testament were stolen from a cabinet at St John's Church in Farley Chamberlayne, near Romsey. |
| It should have `The Parable of the Vineyard' printed on it but instead has `The Parable of the Vinegar' Pc Mark Smith | It should have `The Parable of the Vineyard' printed on it but instead has `The Parable of the Vinegar' Pc Mark Smith |
| Pc Mark Smith of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "The bible stolen from Twyford is particularly rare and distinctive. It was printed in 1717 and contains a printing error that makes it unique. | Pc Mark Smith of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "The bible stolen from Twyford is particularly rare and distinctive. It was printed in 1717 and contains a printing error that makes it unique. |
| "It should have `The Parable of the Vineyard' printed on it but instead has `The Parable of the Vinegar'. | "It should have `The Parable of the Vineyard' printed on it but instead has `The Parable of the Vinegar'. |
| "This obviously makes it a rare and distinctive book so anyone who has seen it would remember it. | "This obviously makes it a rare and distinctive book so anyone who has seen it would remember it. |
| "It is sad that we have to urge our rural churches to be security conscious but these thefts leave us with little option." | "It is sad that we have to urge our rural churches to be security conscious but these thefts leave us with little option." |
| "All of the bibles were taken while the churches were open for worship to the public, so it is likely that there were witnesses to these thefts." | "All of the bibles were taken while the churches were open for worship to the public, so it is likely that there were witnesses to these thefts." |
| Pc Smith said: "These incidents are so similar that it is likely that they are linked." | Pc Smith said: "These incidents are so similar that it is likely that they are linked." |
| The theft of a valuable 'Vinegar Bible', with the same spelling error, was also reported in Devon. | The theft of a valuable 'Vinegar Bible', with the same spelling error, was also reported in Devon. |
| The bible, said to be worth more than £14,000, was stolen from the lectern at Clyst St Lawrence Church some time between 15 April and 6 May. It had been at the church for years. | The bible, said to be worth more than £14,000, was stolen from the lectern at Clyst St Lawrence Church some time between 15 April and 6 May. It had been at the church for years. |