A SUSPECTED thief appeared in the Uitenhage magistrate's court yesterday charged with stealing memorial plaques from a local church's wall of remembrance, Eastern Cape police said.

A SUSPECTED thief appeared in the Uitenhage magistrate's court yesterday charged with stealing memorial plaques from a local church's wall of remembrance, Eastern Cape police said.

Lieutenant Colonel Priscilla Naidu said Baptist church members noticed that the plaques were missing on Thursday.

"The police were told and immediately contacted local metal dealers," Naidu said. "About 30 minutes later the police received a call from a dealers saying the plaques were purchased on Wednesday from the suspect."

The church laid a charge of theft and the man was arrested on Friday.

The police said they were in possession of 29 plaques that had not been identified and advised all churches in the area to inspect memorials on their property. - Sapa