POLICE are investigating after more than 20 ancient skulls were stolen from a church crypt.
The skulls, which are believed to be around 700 years old, were stolen from a shelving display at St Leonard’s Church in Hythe, Kent.
The bizarre burglary took place between 4pm on Sunday, July 15 and 10.40am the following day.
Staff were alerted after noticing a lock on the door to the crypt was damaged.
The Reverend Andrew Sweeney, Priest-in-Charge at St Leonard’s, said: “Each skull represents the mortal remains of a human being who deserves to rest in peace.
“This crime is shocking and unsettling for those in our community and we are grateful to the police for their help in this matter.”
Inspector Maxine Harris of Kent Police said: “We recognise this is perhaps an unusual theft, but these skulls were not free for the taking.
We are investigating after 21 ancient human skulls were reported stolen from St Leonard's Church in #Hythe - can you help? https://t.co/8M7rFPvPWb pic.twitter.com/53S9Qimlpb
— KentPoliceShepway (@kentpoliceshep) 18 July 2018
“They are part of an important collection, we are keen to see them back in their rightful place in the crypt.
“We would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time of the burglary.
“Also we ask people to get in touch if they have seen these skulls offered for sale.”
St Leonard’s has the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient human bones and skulls in Britain.
The collection of over 1,000 skulls is arranged on shelves in four arched bays, while the ossuary also contains a single large stack of bones almost eight metres long and two metres high.
A number of skulls have signs of injury through sharp blows, with one said to be either a result of trepanning or caused by a sharp object, such as a dagger.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 16-419.
