A spate of burglaries across West Jutland has seen valuable Danish design furniture vanish from churches, with police struggling to identify suspects.
At Nr. Omme Church, 25 Børge Mogensen "Folkestolen" chairs, worth around DKK 3,700 each, were stolen overnight. Similarly, Hee Church reported the theft of two Wegner wicker chairs and a designer lamp, with the total value estimated at DKK 65,000. Sædding Church also lost wicker chairs worth DKK 18,000.
Local police suspect the same individual or group is behind the thefts. Martin Bjerg, police assistant in Ringkøbing, said: 'It's very striking... it's probably the same perpetrator.' He confirmed that in one case, an umbrella was wedged in a door to override an automatic locking system, giving the thieves free access.
Churches often remain open outside service hours to welcome visitors or provide quiet reflection, but their open-door policy has made them vulnerable. Many are situated in remote areas, further reducing the risk of detection during night-time burglaries.
Bjerg urged churches to bolster security measures, suggesting new alarm systems or video surveillance to help deter theft and aid investigations. He also called for public assistance, as leads remain limited.
The theft of iconic furniture items, which are prized for their design and high resale value, marks an unusual trend in church-related crime. Police continue to seek witnesses and encourage any churches with similar losses to report them immediately.
Source: www.wood-supply.dk