Four men have been convicted in connection with the theft of designer chairs from churches near Horsens, Denmark. The court in Horsens delivered the sentences on Wednesday.

The men received varying suspended and partially suspended prison sentences. The convictions relate to a series of burglaries that occurred in 2022, involving a total of 78 designer chairs stolen from seven churches in the Horsens area.

The district court also awarded DKK 15,000 in compensation to several churches and parish councils affected by the burglaries, intended to cover the insurance deductible expenses.

All four men were found guilty of the burglary at Ørslev Church in Hovedgård, during which 22 Kaare Klint church chairs were stolen.

However, the court acquitted all the men of one charge concerning the burglary at Gangsted Church in Hovedgård, where four Børge Mogensen chairs were stolen. Only one man was convicted of the burglary at Hvirring Church, involving the theft of seven Kaare Klint church chairs.

Two defendants were convicted of three other charges related to chair thefts from Føvling Church, Tolstrup Church, and Hampen Church, while a third was found guilty only of receiving stolen goods. The two men convicted of the burglaries were also found guilty of a burglary at Hammer Church.

One of the men also stole two heat pumps valued at over DKK 86,000. Another man was implicated in the theft of one of the heat pumps.

One defendant received the longest sentence: one year and two months in prison, with six months to be served. He was also convicted of several other offenses. Another received a three-month suspended sentence. Two others received joint sentences, including sentences for previous cases. One was sentenced to one year in prison, with three months to be served. The third was sentenced to ten months’ suspended imprisonment with community service.

The convicts have the option to appeal the court’s decision.