A century-old brass bell has been stolen from St Peters Anglican Church in the regional township of Mallala, marking the latest incident in a surge of metal thefts across South Australia. Police believe the bell, which was mounted on a stand outside the church entrance, was taken between the afternoon of Friday, October 2, and the following Thursday evening.
A Growing Pattern of Community Loss
The theft is part of a broader trend of historical and memorial items being targeted for their scrap value. Recent incidents include the removal of plaques from the Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial and The Gums Reserve War Memorial Garden in suburban Adelaide, as well as the theft of a bust of suffragist Mary Lee from the city's CBD in August.
Adelaide Plains Mayor Mark Wasley described the bell as an "irreplaceable" piece of community heritage, noting that its weight suggests multiple people were likely involved in the theft. Local church representatives have expressed deep distress, noting that the bell held significant sentimental value, having been used for generations during weddings, funerals, and baptisms.