Sacred objects worth over 1800 euros have disappeared from the St Jakob's Protestant Church in Nürnberg. The theft was noticed in autumn by a group of visitors, who realised that the angel statues, which were normally holding religious symbols in their hands, were now standing there empty-handed. The religious symbols which have been stolen are a Christ monogram, a cross and symbols of scourge, crown of thorns, hammer and nails.
The church's pastor Roland Thie said that this was not the first time the church has been targeted: "A year ago there were riots in the church: a Bible was stolen, screws loosened and blood stains were found on the altar cloth." He also said that the church had to remain closed for a time because of the vandalism. "Data protection made it difficult to install a camera. The church then remained closed during the day. It has only been open again for a few weeks," pastor Roland Thie explained.