A man hsa stolen a statuette of Christ from a church near Colchester

Police are appealing to the public to name a man caught on CCTV who officers want to speak to in relation to the theft.

About 1.50pm on February 23 a man walked into St Andrews Church, Rectory Lane, Abberton, near Colchester and broke into the safe and stole cash. The thief also stole a statuette of Christ with the Virgin Mary which is 1ft 6ins tall and a ship’s bell in bronze with ‘SMI’ in capital letters which is about 6ins tall and the same diameter.

Anyone who can name the man or knows the current location of the stolen items is asked to contact Pc Shaun Hammond at Colchester Police Station on 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.