A vicar and his worship band became have-a-go heroes as they helped to snare a bag thief.
Vicar Charles Trefusis, of Christ Church in Purley, took a photo of the thief after he tried to steal a bag from his congregation.
The incident happened on May 18 when the thief, who had already been caught on CCTV stealing a handbag, entered the Sunday service.
The worship band were in full swing when the thief sat in the front row.
As he looked suspicious, members of the band kept a close eye on him and at about 7.15pm he was spotted trying to dip his hand into a guitar case.
The band’s quick-thinking singer stopped the song and shouted over the microphone “Get out of my bag”.
Having been rumbled, the thief ran for the exit but not before Mr Trefusis took chase.
Unable to out-run the culprit, he had the presence of mind to snap the thief with his camera, providing evidence for the police.
Working from eyewitness accounts and the photograph, the local safer neighbourhood team (SNT) began to track down the man.
He was arrested on June 16, where police discovered he was responsible for a number of other thefts in churches.
The man, in his 30s, has been released on police bail, and will be charged later this week.
PC Stuart McCrae of Purley SNT, praised Mr Trefusis for his work helping to catch the culprit.
Mr Trefusis said: “There have been some incidents of theft in local churches and we are working with the police to try and stop them.
“I felt I had to try and identify this man.”
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