- CCTV shows the man in St Augustine Church in Edgbaston, Birmingham
- West Midlands Police are investigating the theft in broad daylight on Monday
This is the moment a shameless thief strolls into a deserted church and makes off with a Victorian brass eagle worth £6,000.
CCTV footage shows the man walking up the aisle of St Augustine Church in Edgbaston, Birmingham, at around 11am on Monday.
The crook removes the heavy lectern from its column before draping a blanket over it and brazenly carrying it out of the church.
Sharing the footage on social media, the church said the lectern has been a feature of St Augustine's since its consecration in 1868.
West Midlands Police are now investigating the theft which took just two minutes to commit in broad daylight.
The man can be seen removing the lectern from the column before draping a blanket over it
Footage shows the man carrying the brass eagle, which is hidden under a blanket, out of the church
The brass eagle estimated to be worth £6,000 has been in place since the church's consecration in 1868
The thief struck while the church, which is open to the public from 8.30am to 6pm every day, was momentarily empty.
The Reverend Matthew Tomlinson said: 'I must have missed him by about five minutes because I had to pop out.
'It is very unusual for this to happen on a Monday because usually the church is very busy with people.
'He clearly knew exactly what he was after because he walked straight up to it and even had a blanket with him.
'He knew it wasn't attached and simply picked it up and walked out.'
The theft took place in broad daylight on Monday, June 10
The crime has been reported to West Midlands Police who are investigating
CCTV captures the thief stealing the Victorian brass eagle lectern from St Augustine's Church in Edgbaston
Rev Tomlinson said the lectern was worth around £6,000 but was hopeful it would be recovered.
He added: 'A similar lectern was stolen from a church in the Birmingham area last year but it was recovered.
'It appears the thief couldn't sell it on because dealers knew it was stolen. We certainly hope we will get it back.
'We all feel a sense of intrusion and that our hospitality has been abused.
'There has been a spate of thefts from churches in the area. The break ins have happened at night so it is rare for one to happen in the day time.
'The church will continue to be opened.'
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: 'The theft has been reported to us and our enquiries are ongoing.'
