A church in Monthey was affected by repeated acts of nighttime vandalism, including misuse of liturgical objects and damage inside the building. The incidents prompted the parish to restrict access.
As reported by Le Nouvelliste on June 5, the Church of Monthey has been subjected to repeated unauthorised nighttime entries and acts of vandalism. According to the parish, individuals entered the church at night and attempted to break into cabinets located behind the altar.
In a separate incident, two individuals reportedly stayed inside the church and used the confessional as a place to sleep. They also handled liturgical objects and left the confessional in what was described as a “devastated” condition.
These actions involved not only damage and attempted intrusion but also the misuse of spaces and objects with specific religious significance. No theft was reported.
Following these incidents, the parish filed a complaint with the police and introduced stricter measures, including limiting opening hours and planning the installation of an automatic locking system to prevent further occurrences.