Tabernacle Stolen and Statue of Mary Damaged
Thieves broke into the Los Urrutias church in Cartagena, stole the tabernacle, and damaged the statue of the Virgin del Carmen, which they left in the streets.
On 19 November 2025, two unidentified individuals broke into the church of Los Urrutias in Cartagena by forcing a side window. They entered the sacristy, left it in disarray, and stole the keys and the tabernacle containing consecrated hosts, which the Catholic Church considers an act of sacrilege.
Parish priest Antonio Guillén confirmed that the statue of the Virgin del Carmen was removed from its chapel and left in the street with a broken hand, and he reported the incident to the Guardia Civil, which later detained two suspects in Murcia and Beniel. The Association of Neighbors condemned the act, stating: “You may be a believer or not, but the Church is respected, sacred temples are respected, faith is respected, and our patron saint is respected.” The group emphasised that the theft represented an attack on a sacred space and demanded respect for religious symbols.
Source: La Verdad
Photo: X