Economics
Is Nothing Sacred? Bell Thieves Strike Churches in France
- Mystery French bell thefts point to metal sharks or collectors
- Bells were stolen from their spires in isolated churches
Photographer: Michel Gile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
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Centuries-old bells were stolen from church spires in three sleepy villages in Provence, a region in southeastern France, in July and the early part of this month, leaving the police scratching their heads.
“We have no leads whatsoever, but we believe this could have been done either by metal thieves or some bell collectors,” said Pierre Arpaia, deputy-prosecutor in Draguignan, who’s in charge of the case.