Burglary from Church Discovered during Funeral

Case information
Incident date
Country
France
Place
Ardèche
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Desecration
  • Theft
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Church
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Time/Place/Location
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated

The people who opened the Église Saint-Symphorien in Valvignères on February 13th for a funeral discovered signs of a burglary. Evidence of a break-in were found at one of the access doors, and several objects were missing: two chalices, two patens, a monstrance, two ciboriums, two cruets, two holy water fonts, and a baccarat crystal chandelier of significant size and weight. It appeared that the intruders also tried break into the sacristy and forced the door of the tabernacle with a crowbar. It was unclear from reports whether consecrated hosts were stolen.

An investigation was opened by the police.

Sources