A YORK vicar has put warning signs up in his church because thieves are targeting worshippers' cars during sermons.

The Rev Simon Stanley, of St Chad's Church in South Bank, said the church car park had been targeted a number of times in the last two months.

The latest incident left five out of seven parked cars with smashed windows. Signs have been put up outside the church hall and in the church porch warning the congregation to remove all valuables from their vehicles.

But Mr Stanley said that nothing was stopping the attacks and he feared that CCTV would eventually have to be installed on the church grounds as a deterrent.

Mr Stanley said: "It's just so frustrating. Nothing of value was taken on Thursday, but we have been targeted three times in the last two months.

"This has never happened before. As far as I know, it's quite a new phenomenon and they've decided to pick on us.

"It's such a frustrating thing, but what can you do? If they had taken something then at least not everybody would have lost.

"But it caused hundreds of pounds of damage and they got nothing - everybody lost out." Soon after the first incident Mr Stanley saw two young men leaving the church grounds. He said the problem would not prevent worshippers visiting the church, but it was causing problems as so many relied on their cars.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said that the church-goers were doing the right thing by removing valuables from their cars, and that they should continue to do so.

He said: "Police are aware that there have been a number of incidents and we are monitoring the situation to try and provide a long term solution to the problem."

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, June 03, 2003