A SPATE of church burglaries across the Chilterns has been linked by police following a third break-in in less than a week.

The Baptist Church in High Street, Great Missenden, was the latest target for burglars who climbed in through a side window between midnight on Saturday, September 3 and 9am on Sunday, September 4.

They searched a number of rooms, before leaving empty-handed. Just three days earlier, thieves attempted to burgle St George's Church, White Lion Road, Amersham between 8pm on Tuesday, August 30 and 10.30am on Wednesday August 31, when they tried to gain access to the church hall. They used a metal pole to force a locked door handle and break wooden boardings but failed to get in.

Thieves damaged precious historical items when they broke into St Mary's Church, Church Lane, Chesham, between Sunday, August 28 and Tuesday, August 30. They forced open two large main entrance doors.

Mike Levine, Thames Valley Police crime reduction supervisor, said: "These offenders have used garden tools from a nearby, insecure shed, to assist their entry into the building. It is important that security measures taken to lock and secure church buildings ext-end to any other outbuildings or stores, not just to prevent offenders getting in, but also to prevent them using anything stored there as an implement in their offence.

"People connected with the church may also want to conduct regular checks of the security measures used on doors and windows of the buildings to ensure they are adequate and act as a visible deterrent where possible."

Anyone with information should call DC Melissa Wells on 08458 505505, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111