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Cop-out over church theft

Two Episcopal church officials who chased and caught a thief who stole the Sunday collection claim they were forced to let him go after a 999 operator refused to send police to help.

James MacLean and Noel Connor caught the man after he fled from St Margaret's Church in Easter Road, Edinburgh, with the money, and planned to hold him until police arrived.

But when Mr MacLean, 62, dialled 999 from his mobile, he claims an "insolent" operator refused to send an officer to the scene because he was unable to give details of any weapons the thief might have been carrying.

Mr MacLean, a member of the church vestry, has lodged an official complaint with Lothian and Borders Police over the way he was treated. The force is investigating.

He said he and church treasurer Mr Connor were left in a vulnerable situation after apprehending the thief with no police back-up on the way. "I thought the public were encouraged to combat crime. I was flabbergasted with the attitude of the operator," said Mr MacLean.

The pair were forced to let the thief go without recovering the money when they realised they were not going to get police back-up. Later that day, Mr MacLean said he got a call from an officer at Leith police station to say that a man had been detained in connection with the theft.

He added: "We are Christians, we are about forgiveness and we are not asking the police to press charges. Of more importance than the actual theft was the inept handling of the emergency 999 call."

A police spokesman confirmed a 51-year-old man had been arrested and charged in connection with the theft.

He added: "I can confirm that we have received Mr MacLean's complaint and the matter will be subject to further investigation."

Full story at the Edinburgh Evening News.