Styal residents are reeling after lead thieves struck at the village’s historic Norcliffe Unitarian Chapel twice in a week.
The chapel, in the grounds of the National Trust’s Quarry Bank Mill estate, was stripped of hundreds of pounds worth of lead by the rooftop raiders at night on Monday, June 27.
The thieves then returned the following afternoon to steal more.
Now church officials are waiting to find out how much repairs are likely to cost.
The damage has left parts of the roof exposed to the weather.
The Rev Alex Bradley said: “They’ve really made a mess of the roof.
“A lot of lead was stolen and then, not content with that, the thieves came back to steal some more.
“I’ve no idea how much it’ll cost to repair yet.
“We’re hoping the weather won’t be too inclement in the meantime and that the thieves don’t come back.
“It really upsets me that people would target a building that is for community use and tear off our roof and cause so much damage. People need to be vigilant against this sort of thing. It’s a real shame.”
It follows two thefts of lead from the village’s post office more than a fortnight ago.
That lead was replaced at a cost of £200, but the culprits returned and snatched it again.
Police say the spate of thefts is due to the high scrap value of lead.
They believe the same offenders are responsible for the thefts in Styal.
PC Andy Roberts, of Wilmslow NPU, warned businesses and residents to be on the lookout. He said: “Lead thieves seem to be targeting Styal at the moment. We want local people to be vigilant and keep an eye on their own and neighbouring properties.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0845 458 0000.
