Community heartbroken after Dalmuir Barclay Church 'ransacked' and four-figure sum stolen

A church community in West Dunbartonshire has been left “heartbroken” after a break-in which saw a four-figure sum of cash stolen and the building damaged.

Dalmuir Barclay Church on Durban Avenue was broken into between 2.40am and 3.50am on Wednesday.

Fiona Hennebry, elder and health and safety officer at the church, said the community has been left “heartbroken”.

“Our two cleaners came in on Wednesday morning to prepare for the food pantry, which helps those who experience food poverty, and found that the cupboards had been ransacked,” she told STV News.

Among the stolen items was a four-figure sum of cash that was going to be used to buy food for upcoming pantry sessions.

Ms Hennebry, who is also an elected member of West Dunbartonshire council, said she is “devastated” by the events.

She said that if the thieves were that desperate, she wished they had come to the church for help and support.

“We’re heartbroken, we’ve supported so many people in the community, and if someone was that desperate, they could’ve talked to us and we would’ve supported them,” she added.

“A lot of our volunteers, who include non church members, have also been hit hard. As they come from the local area, and we’re assuming the person who broke in was also from the area.”

Following the incident, Ms Hennebry said there has been “phenomenal” support from the community.

“A local charity called Improving Lives has been in and dropped a donation off to help us buy food for the pantry, and one of our volunteers, who works at the local Asda, has also set up a food drive there,” she said.

“The number of people who have contacted me not just for donations but to help clean up has been amazing, the response has been phenomenal, everyone is truly devastated.”

Despite the setback, Ms Hennebry said the church will open for Sunday worship and the pantry will reopen next week.

“We’re just going through and checking what’s been stolen, but we’ll be open next week and will come back stronger.”

Detective inspector Pamela Grant said: “Break-ins and thefts like this are not victimless crimes. There’s a financial loss of the stolen items and a cost to repair damage caused. However, some of the items taken cannot be replaced and this has an even bigger impact on those who attend the premises.

“I’m appealing to anyone with information about what happened, or the current whereabouts of the stolen items, to come forward.

“I’d also ask anyone with private CCTV, doorbell or dash-cam footage from the area in the early hours of Wednesday morning to please review this and bring anything of significance to our attention.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference 0947 of July 23. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.