Cemeteries in Mayenne and Brittany vandalised in series of thefts of religious statues
Since early April 2026, multiple cemeteries across Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan have been targeted in a series of thefts and acts of vandalism in which bronze statuettes of the Virgin Mary were removed from graves.
Since the beginning of April 2026, numerous cemeteries across Mayenne, Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan have been targeted by thieves in a pattern of repeated incidents affecting multiple municipalities. In each case, bronze statuettes of the Virgin Mary placed on graves have been stolen, and in some instances graves have also been defaced.
Local authorities and families have filed complaints as the same modus operandi has been reported across several sites. Investigations have been opened by the gendarmerie into a series of coordinated thefts affecting cemeteries in towns including Ballots, Fontaine-Couverte, La Roë, Congrier and others.
The most recent incidents on the night of 16 to 17 April saw dozens of graves damaged, with statues forcibly removed and funerary ornaments broken. In some cases, only the bases of the Virgin Mary statues remained attached to tombs after being unsealed and taken away.
According to the prosecutor of Laval, around thirty bronze statuettes have been stolen, with estimated values ranging between €300 and €1,000 each. While the cases are formally treated as grave desecration, investigators are currently focusing on the possibility of organised theft.
Source: franceinfo, ouest-france
Photo: facebook