CCTV captures Lancashire mosque burglar taking his shoes off before stealing charity box

At just after midday on Wednesday, January 14, a man went into the Jamia Masjid Minhaj Quaran Mosque in Brunswick Street, Nelson.

He was filmed on CCTV as he took off his shoes before forcibly removing the charity box from the wall before making off.

Lancashire Police said the box contained around £40 in donations. It’s the second time the thief has targeted mosques in Lancashire.

In December, the intruder was captured on CCTV entering the Masjid-e-Raza in Balaclava Street, Blackburn and fleeing with a stolen safe stashed inside a wheelie bin.

Sharing a CCTV appeal from the latest burglary, a police spokesperson said: “We want to speak to him as part of an investigation into the theft of a charity box from a mosque in Nelson last month.

“We are investigating and we are asking for your help to identify the man in these CCTV stills.

“If you know who he is or have any information, please call us on 101 quoting log 1197 of January 14.

“You can also contact independent charity Crimestoppers online or on 0800 555 111.”