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Thieves strike at three French villages and steal the antique church bells

French police are hunting for thieves who have stolen bronze bells from the steeples of listed Provencal churches in the dead of night over the past month.

Published: 28 August 2019 15:53 CEST
Thieves strike at three French villages and steal the antique church bells
There is apparently a thriving black market for church bells in France. Photo: AP

Residents of Ginasservis and Brue-Auriac as well as the village of Esparron-de-Pallieres (population 350) have been left dumbfounded by the mysterious disappearance of their churches' chimes.

The first to be targeted was Ginasservis, a town of 1,800 souls 80 km northeast of Marseille, where two bronze bells weighing between 50 and 80 kg each, one dating from 1737 and the other from 1867, were stolen from two different churches on July 21st.

READ ALSO Could the sounds of rural France soon gain heritage status?


The noise of church bells ringing are a key part of the French rural landscape Photo: AFP

The thieves had to cross a graveyard to reach one of the chapels, Le Parisien newspaper reported Wednesday.

In the process of taking down the bells they damaged the roof of the church.

On August 10th, they struck again, this time 25 km away in Brue-Auriac, where they made off with a bell from a 12th-century Romanesque church weighing 85kg.

“The chapel is outside the centre of the village, which is probably why it was targeted,” the town's mayor, Andre Rousselet, told AFP.

“The bell has already probably been melted down,” he said, since the engravings on the bell, including the seal of the bell foundry, would make it difficult to sell on.

Last week it was the turn of the nearby hamlet of Esparron-de-Pallieres, where another listed 12th-century Romanesque church, on a hillside among ancient oak trees, was left bereft of its treasured 50kg bell.

The only trace of the thieves' presence was the roof tiles found scattered on the ground.

The public prosecutor leading the investigation into the three incidents told AFP it was still unclear if the robberies were linked.

“We take this very seriously. Either the bells are being sold on or they are being melted down for the bronze,” prosecutor Pierre Arpaia said.

Le Parisien cited a source familiar with the traffic of stolen goods as confirming there was a thriving black market for old church bells, which can fetch up to €20,000 a piece among collectors of old artworks or religious artefacts.

Catholic authorities in the Var diocese, where the churches are located, have told worshippers to be on their guard.

“What more can we do?”, one priest told Le Parisien, adding that all parishioners could do was “pray”.

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PROPERTY

How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

Storm Ciaran’s property-wrecking passage through France - with another storm forecast for the weekend - may have many people wondering how comprehensive their insurance cover is. 

Published: 3 November 2023 15:45 CET
How to ensure your French property is insured for storm damage

In the wake of Storm Ciaran, thousands of property owners in France are preparing insurance claims – with initial estimates of the bill for damage between €370 million and €480 million.

Home insurance is compulsory in France, whether you own the property you live in or you rent – and it must include some level of storm damage cover. 

Check also to see if your insurance provides cover in case of a declaration of a catastrophe naturelle.

The garantie tempête (storm guarantee) covers damage caused by violent winds. What constitutes a ‘violent wind’ varies from contract to contract, but there appears to be a widespread consensus of agreement on wind speeds over 100km/h.

In most insurance contracts, this covers damage caused by the storm and within the following 48 hours – so you’re covered if, for example, a tree weakened by the storm comes down within that period and damages your property.

Be aware that, while the storm guarantee automatically covers the main property, it generally only covers any secondary buildings and light constructions – such as a veranda, shed, solar panels, swimming pool or fence – if they are specifically mentioned in the contract. 

The same is true of any cars damaged by debris. A basic insurance contract might not include storm damage, so it is always worth checking.

Damage must be reported to your insurer as quickly as possible. The deadline for making declarations is usually five days after any damage is noticed. This is especially important for second home owners, who may not be at the property when the damage occurs. 

In some cases – such as in the aftermath of Storm Ciaran – insurers may extend the reporting period. But under normal circumstances, it’s five days after the damage has been discovered.

What happens next

To make a claim, the first thing to do is contact your insurer by phone or email. Your insurer will take you through the next steps, but usually you have to send in a declaration – which should include an estimate of any losses and for any repairs, with evidence where possible, such as photographs and any receipts for purchases. 

Your insurer may also request proof of wind intensity, which can be provided for example by a nearby weather station.

The insurance company may appoint an expert to come and assess the damage, so make sure to keep damaged property safe until they arrive, as well as all invoices for any urgent repair work. 

What if you’re a tenant?

If you rent your property, you must report any damage inside the accommodation to your insurer and also notify your landlord so that they can file their own claim. 

In the case of a co-propriete, you must declare damage inside the accommodation to your insurer, while the trustee sends his own declaration to the collective insurance (which sometimes covers the private areas) .

How long does it take for claims to be settled?

Payment of the compensation provided for by the “storm guarantee” depends your home insurance contract. After the insurer has estimated the amount of damage, compensation is generally paid between 10 and 30 days following receipt of the insured’s agreement.

What if we got flooded?

In the case of flooding, you may have to wait for a natural disaster order to be issued. 

Catastrophe naturelle

The ‘state of natural disaster’ is a special procedure that was set up in 1982 so victims of exceptional natural events, such as storms, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding, as well as drought, can be adequately compensated for damage to property.

The government evaluates each area and deems whether it qualifies for the status of catastrophe naturelle (natural disaster). 

Essentially once a zone is declared a natural disaster, victims can claim from a pot of funds created by all insurers. If the zone is not declared a disaster, insurance companies are under no obligation to pay out. 

Under a “state of natural disaster” residents are covered for all those goods and property that are directly damaged by the phenomenon, in this case storms.

It applies to residential or commercial buildings, furniture, vehicles and work equipment that are already covered by insurance policies.

Homes must be already covered by a multi-risk insurance policy for the status of natural disaster to count.

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