Floodlights stolen from old chapel

The police are investigating the theft of two floodlights that used to illuminate the chapel of Santa Marija ta' Bir Miftuh in Gudja that was restored in 2004.

Sources close to culturual heritage NGO Din l-Art Helwa told The Times that the thief or thieves managed to gain access to the chapel by opening three locks, before disconnecting the electricity supply and removing the two floodlights.

None of the locks were broken or damaged.

The chapel was declared a parish in 1436 by Bishop Senatore de Mello and served as such until 1676 when the parish church of Gudja was built. The chapel was never in the centre of a village but was a parish church that served several villages.

The sources said that, in order to get into the chapel, the intruder/s first opened a padlock on the side door and then went on to open an ordinary lock on the same door. Once inside the chapel, the intruder/s opened yet another ordinary lock, gaining access to the electricity supply cupboard. The chapel's main switch was turned off before the two floodlights were disconnected.

The sources said the chapel's warden discovered the missing floodlights last Wednesday and later in the week the matter was reported to the police, who are now investigating.