Oswestry park CCTV improvements after statue theft bid
Surveillance of Oswestry's town park is to be improved, after thieves tried to steal a statue.
The bronze cast of Sabrina, the goddess of the River Severn, was taken off its plinth in Cae Glas Park last month. It is thought that thieves were trying to steal the six foot statue but were disturbed and left it lying on a pavement nearby.
Now experts say the statue will need major repairs before it can be returned to its rightful place, close to the children's playground in the park.
Oswestry Town Council, which is responsible for the Victorian park, said the statue had been held down with reinforced anchoring pins. It is thought the would-be thieves took a chainsaw to the statue, the noise waking a nearby resident who alerted police.
Oswestry mayor, Councillor Peter Cherrington, said that there would have been little value in trying to sell the statue for scrap.
"We hope that the statue can be repaired and replaced by the end of the summer," he said.
"We are currently looking at the CCTV in the park and whether it should be increased to ensure that all areas can been monitored."
Police are investigating the incident and have asked anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to contact Oswestry police station on 101.
The statue was removed at about 1am on June 18.
