Binbrook church hit by heating oil theft for second time

A village church in Lincolnshire has been left counting the cost after heating oil was stolen for the second time this year, in what church officials have described as a bitter blow for the wider community. The latest theft happened at the Church of St Mary and St Gabriel in Binbrook during the early hours of 12 April. According to the church, 500 litres of oil were taken from the tank, following an earlier theft in January. Treasurer Philip Wallis said the discovery was made after a dog-walker raised the alarm, reporting that it appeared somebody had been tampering with the tank.

By that point, he said, it had been completely drained. For a rural Lincolnshire church, the impact goes beyond the cost of replacing fuel. Mr Wallis said the loss would divert money and attention away from projects the church had planned to support locally. He described the incident as a "kick in the teeth", adding that if the church believed somebody genuinely needed help, it would try to support them, but said this theft instead felt "mean and nasty".

Church warden Kate Collins also spoke of the frustration caused by the incident, saying volunteers work hard to keep the church going and that having oil taken in this way was unfair. She described the theft as a "travesty". The case will strike a chord in many parts of Lincolnshire, where homes, farms and community buildings in rural areas often rely on heating oil rather than mains gas. That can leave tanks exposed, especially where properties are more isolated.

Police have warned that this kind of offence could become more common as oil prices remain a concern. Lincolnshire Police said people with oil tanks should check them regularly and look for signs of tampering. The force advised owners to consider extra security measures including locks, cages, CCTV and electronic gauges that can alert them if oil levels suddenly fall. Officers also noted that thefts are not always immediately obvious, particularly in warmer weather when heating is used less often.

In some cases, only a small amount may be taken, while in others a tank can be emptied entirely before anyone notices. For village churches such as St Mary and St Gabriel, that creates a particular challenge. Historic buildings are often open, accessible and deeply woven into community life, but that same openness can make them vulnerable. In Binbrook, the immediate issue is practical as much as emotional.

Replacing stolen oil is an added expense, and church officials say it risks slowing work they had hoped to carry out for the benefit of local people. In a county where many rural communities already face rising costs, the theft is a reminder that even small acts of crime can have wider consequences.

This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.