Kent Police have arrested seven men in connection with the Chatham memorial theft and recovered a stolen memorial plaque taken from a Chatham churchyard, following a swift cross-county investigation.

Theft from Christ Church, Luton Road

The theft occurred at Christ Church on Luton Road in Chatham at approximately 10pm on Friday, 23 May 2025. Two memorial plaques were reported stolen from the church grounds, triggering public outrage and concern across the community. The news involving Chatham memorial theft spread quickly.

Officers launched an urgent investigation to locate the missing items related to this memorial theft.

Plaque Found at Essex Scrapyard

One of the plaques was recovered on Wednesday, 28 May, after police traced it to a scrapyard in Essex. This led to the arrest of two men, aged 25 and 26, both from Dartford, who were quickly detained by officers near the Dartford Crossing, suspected of involvement in the memorial theft from Chatham.

Following further enquiries, five additional men aged between 22 and 51 and from the Medway area were also arrested. All seven men remain in police custody related to the Chatham memorial incident.

Appeal for Second Missing Memorial

While one memorial has been safely returned to the parish, police are still seeking the second plaque, which remains missing. Community assistance is requested to help solve this aspect of the memorial theft in Chatham.

PC Alanya Spiller, the investigating officer, stated:

“The loss of these memorials had a considerable impact on the local community, and we were delighted to return one of the missing items to the parish within a few days of the incident.”

“We are still seeking the other plaque and urge anyone who may be able to assist to contact us. This includes residents with private CCTV or motorists with dashcam footage in the Luton Road or Dartford Crossing areas.”

How to Help

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Kent Police on 01634 792209, quoting reference 46/87178/25. Alternatively, tip-offs can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or online. Every piece of information is vital in resolving the theft related to the memorial in Chatham.