THE vicar of a community church has despaired at thieves who broke in and just stole ice cream.

The theft, reported by the Oxford Mail last week, was one of a series of attempts and break-ins at St Andrew’s Church in Dean Court throughout May and June.

Vicar Geoff Maughan said it was a shame people would do something like that to a community building.

He added: “The door had been bashed in. Someone put their shoulder to it and wrecked the door frame.

“They went for the ice-cream in the fridge; they are not there to ransack the place.”

People unlocking the church for a mum and toddler group found melted ice-cream and empty tubs around the church.

Although there is nothing expensive in the church to steal there is a tuck shop which stores snacks for after school clubs.

This latest incident happened sometime between 9am on Thursday, June 20, and 9am the next day.

Just two weeks before on June 4 there was a break-in attempt between 5.45pm and 6.45pm.

The thieves stood on the window sill of the 1960s building while they tried to force the window open.

Another time they tried to push their way through the back kitchen door. The culprits also smashed the church window one month earlier on May 7 between 11.30am and 9pm.

The church opened a new £100,000 open access multi-use games area in October.

Youngsters use it to play football, basketball, volleyball and other sports next to the building.

Mr Maughan said: “It is part of the local community. We should be looking after it not spoiling it and breaking it.

“The church has gone to great trouble to provide this facility. It is a shame when you get that back as a response.

“It has been a whole sequence of things. We are working hard to make a difference in the community with the games area especially for young people.

“It is a pity that youngsters take it out on the church while we are trying to help.”

Pc Del Delaney based at Abingdon police station is asking for witnesses to come forward by calling police on 101.