Ransacking of parish church prompts Honiton businesses to review security.

Businesses and organisations, including charities, with premises in Honiton are urgently reviewing security following a spate of burglaries.

Nowhere is deemed ‘safe’ after the parish church fell victim to a burglar.

The parish office was ransacked during the break-in and a large oak table inside St Paul’s Church was turned upside down, while a floor safe was ripped up.

The burglary followed break-ins at a fish and chip shop, in New Street, and the Thelma Hulbert Gallery, run by East Devon District Council.

It is not known if the crimes are linked, but it is understood by this newspaper that cash, not goods, was the target in each of the burglaries.

One Honiton organisation is to put the matter of security on an agenda for a meeting this week and a business owner told The Herald he will ensure cash is never left on his premises.