POLICE believe the theft of three wooden plaques from the world famous Italian Chapel in Orkney took place at one point over three days last week after a worldwide appeal helped narrow down the timeframe.
Photographs of the chapel taken by visitors and islanders have led them to believe the artefacts were taken between the morning of Wednesday, August 6, and the early evening of Friday, August 8. Police Scotland said there had been a "huge" international response.
Fourteen hand-carved panels of the Stations of the Cross were donated to the chapel by the man who led the Italian prisoners of war in their efforts to transform two Nissen huts into a place of worship. Domenico Chiocchetti returned to the island of Lamb Holm with his wife in 1964 to make the presentation.
A spokesman said: "Police in Orkney would like to thank everyone who has come forward with information and photographs surrounding the theft from the Italian Chapel. The huge level of response from all over the world shows the respect and affection held for this historic place of worship and the level of outrage that someone has chosen to steal from within its walls." He said from the information provided it would appear that the theft had occurred between 9am on Wednesday August 6 and 5.40pm hours on Friday August 8.
"This is a significantly reduced timeline and Police Scotland would still like to hear from people who visited during this particular period," he said.
Meanwhile Inspector Derek Robb said he would like to appeal directly to the person responsible to think again about their actions and to take every step to ensure the plaques are found and returned to their rightful place within the chapel.
Hundreds of prisoners were taken to Orkney in the Second World War to build barriers between four islands, the Churchill Barriers. They were constructed on the orders of the wartime prime minister to keep German U-boats out of the natural harbour of Scapa Flow. John Muir, secretary of the Italian Chapel Preservation Committee, said the plaques were a person gift from Mr Chiocchetti, who died in 1999.
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