All cases

Filtered by: Theft

Thieves Smash Window and Steal Candlestick from Sussex Church

June 2, 2023, United Kingdom

A suspect entered St. Mary the Virgin Church in Littlehampton, Sussex the night between June 1 and June 2. Damage was caused to a window and a candlestick was stolen. Officers attended the scene and an investigation is now underway.

St Cordula Church Closed due to Repetitive Vandalism

May 16, 2023, Belgium

The Church of St Cordula in Schoten has announced that the doors will be kept closed, due to several cases of vandalism. The place of worship used to be open during the day. In the last vandalism case, candle wax was poured on the floor and smeared on chairs and carpets. A burnt smell shows that paper might also have been burnt.

Organ Pipes Stolen From Sussex Church

May 12, 2023, United Kingdom

Organ pipes were stolen and the organ of the St John The Divine Church in Patching, England, was damaged on the night of the May 12 to 13, 2023. The theft is expected to cost thousands of pounds to repair or replace.

Cross Vandalized on Sisco, Corsica

April 27, 2023, France

A cross on the Saint Jean pass in Sisco, Corsica, was found vandalized at the end of April. The nearly two-metre-high cross was placed on the pass more than twenty years ago by the inhabitants of Sisco. This is one of the four acts of anti-Christian vandalism which have occurred in Corsica in recent months. A statuette of the Virgin Mary in Petit Capo had just been vandalised a few days before the cross was decapitated, and a makeshift altar at a scout camp in Varo was vandalised shortly after this. In May, another statue of the Virgin Mary was found decapitated in Ajaccio.

Vandalism of a Cross And Jesus Figure Stolen in a small German City

April 14, 2023, Germany

On April 14 in Menden, near Dortmund, unknown persons have tampered with the missionary cross on the church square of the Holy Cross Church. They broke off the Jesus figure and stole it. The police is looking for witnesses.

Explosives used to steals thousands of pounds of sacred silver

April 14, 2023, United Kingdom

Tens of thousands of pounds worth of chalices and sacred items have been stolen from the Lady Saint Mary's Church in Wareham after thefts broke into the church and blew up the safe on April 14. Explosives were used for the break-in and at least 25 pieces of communion silver, including a 450-year-old Elizabethan chalice worth 30,000 pounds, were stolen. The police suspects this gang of thieves has been targeting churches across the UK.

Man on Trial for Extortion of a Priest and Theft from a Church

April 9, 2023, Italy

Lorenzo Cerquetta, 43, from Recanati, is on trial at the Court of Macerata accused of theft and extortion against the parish priest of the Church of San Flavino. The man from Recanati blackmailed the priest into giving him 200 euros under the threat of setting fire to the church. On April 9, 2023 he furthermore stole 240 euros from the priest's drawer.

Sacred Objects Stolen From an Italian Church

April 4, 2023, Italy

On April 4, intruders broke into the church Santa Caterina da Siena in Coverciano (a suburb of Florence). Sacred objects, including four chalices, and two pyxins (host holders) were stolen. Also, loudspeakers and microphones have been stolen. A parish priest's helper raised the alarm when he noticed that the window of the entrance door had been smashed on Monday morning. Also, a copper gutter was partly torn off the wall. The value of the damage is yet to be estimated. The police are investigating.

Two People arrested for having stolen 14 Skulls in a Church Ossuary

April 1, 2023, Austria

On the 1. April, two German men were arrested after a random police control for having stolen 14 skulls in a Church Ossuary in Mölbling, Austria. The men said they had taken the skulls because they were interested in mourning and funeral cultures. The 43-year-old driver and his 35-year-old passenger from the Regensburg area said they had never stolen skulls before. The police seized the objects and stated that the two death cult fans would be charged with disturbing the peace of the dead after the investigation was completed.

A Painting of Jesus in the Church of Aléria Has been Stolen

March 21, 2023, France

On March 21, the City Council of Aléria (Corsica), stated that a painting representing Jesus Christ and exposed in the Village Church had been stolen. The town hall of Aleria posted on its Facebook page about the theft. The municipality of Plaine orientale wrote: "It is a shock in the parish of Aleria, (...) a sacred object has been stolen." A complaint has been filled.

Vienna: Increased Secutity Cameras in Churches

March 21, 2023, Austria

A terrorist alert in the city of Vienna on 15. March made it particularly obvious, that religious buildings and communities live in fear of attacks or vandalism. During the 15. March, the police guarded several religious sites and churches in the city, according to possible threats of an Islamist attack identified by the intelligence office. Security cameras have been dispatched in many Viennese churches. Jewish and Muslim communities also have such protections.

Theft and Degradations in a Church in Sádaba

March 21, 2023, Spain

On March 21, intruders broke in the church of Sadaba for the second time in the week. The mayor pointed out that the stolen money only had a total amount of under 10 euros. However, the perpetrators made several degradations, including destroying the sacristy's door and throwing several items to the floor, including the clothes from the priests. The mayor expressed his support to the local priest.

Valuable Silver Sacred Objects stolen from a Rural Church

March 19, 2023, United Kingdom

On the night of March 19th, burglars stole valuable silver items in a church from a rural parish in East Devon in Sidmouth. The police are looking for witnesses. On Twitter, pictures show that the objects were chalices, host holders and other tools for the celebration of Mass.

Man disturbs Mass and is suspected to have stolen a Crucifix in a Parisian Church

March 17, 2023, France

On March 17, a man loudly disturbed the Mass at the Saint-Hippolyte Church in Paris. He is also suspected to have stolen a Crucifix from a Parisian Church the day before. The crucifix, which was probably taken down during the theft, was found "broken into several pieces" on a nearby street corner, according to the police. The man is already flagged with a "fiche S", which means, the French State regards him as a danger to public safety. He has also been classified as a potential Islamist. He has also been sent to a psychiatric investigation.

Bells Worth £8,000 Stolen from Wragby Church

March 8, 2023, United Kingdom

Unkown offenders entered All Saints Church in Wragby and stole eight brass handheld bells, worth around £8,000 in total. The theft occurred between March 1 and March 8. The police are investigating the situation.

Vandals Desecrate and Vandalize church and Leave Satanic books on the ground

March 7, 2023, Italy

According to Italian news reports, vandals have destroyed a church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice in the city of La Spezia. The destruction involved removing and stealing 15 painted ceramic tiles, vandalizing the baptistery, and stealing the offertory boxes, among other things. It was also reported that pages of sacred texts were scattered on the floor of the sacristy. The perpetrators also left behind satanic books. The police are investigating, but the perpetrators remain unknown.

Teenagers Vandalize Church and Steal Offertory Money

March 5, 2023, France

On the 5th of March, three teenagers broke into a church, severely damaged the organ, vandalized the church, and robbed the money in the offertory box. They are to be judged in April. According to the report, the perpetrators climbed through the balcony, stealing the key to the organ and bending several pipes, they also sprayed the church with a fire extinguisher and unsealed a railing.

Ancient Silverware Burgled from Historic North Yorkshire Church

March 1, 2023, United Kingdom

Burglars have stolen silverware dating from the 18th century from St. Margaret's Church in Hawes, North Yorkshire. Rev. Dave Clark said the church was broken into in the early hours of March 1. The church's oak door was damaged and silverware was stolen. Rev. Clark said: "An Oak door from the original construction and surrounding stonework were damaged and now need replacing, but more upsetting is that a significant quantity of silverware with particular historic attachment to Hawes was stolen." The police investigated the scene, including searching for prints and evidence.

Brass Lectern Stolen from Hemingstone Church

February 23, 2023, United Kingdom

A heavy brass lectern was stolen form St. Gregory's Church in Hemingstone between February 12 and February 23. According to a Suffolk police spokesman, the thieves also attempted to steal a large bronze eagle that sits on top of the lectern from inside the church. It had been moved near to the door of the church and officers believe the burglars planned a second visit to remove it. It has now been taken to a secure location away from the church to prevent it from being stolen. The police said the lectern is a heavy item and would require at least two people to move it. Police are still investigating the incident.

Saint-Martin d'Orly: Statue beheaded and hosts stolen

February 12, 2023, France

On February 12, the church of Saint-Martin d'Orly, on the border with Choisy-le-Roi was vandalised. A statue of Mary was beheaded and the consecrated hosts stolen from the tabernacle.