All cases
Thieves Steal Cross from Altar
May 4, 2019, GermanySometime between May 3rd and 4th, the intricately carved wooden cross was stolen from the altar of the Peter-Paul-Kirche in Bad Oldesloe. Pastor Diethelm Schark said to enter the sanctuary to steal the wooden cross broke a major taboo and said he hoped the cross would be found and returned.
Donation Box Torn from Wall of Church found at Bus Stop
May 2, 2019, GermanyPolice investigated the theft of an offertory box from a church in Wiehe (Thüringen). On May 2nd, church staff discovered that the donation box had been forcibly torn from the wall. It was later found at a bus stop. A small amount of cash was stolen, but the incident caused property damage of about 100 euros.
Heavy Damage after Church Break-In
April 29, 2019, GermanyUnknown thieves broke into a church on the Luisenring in Mannheim on April 29th. According to police, the perpetrators gained access to the church through a back window during the night of April 29th. They searched the chapel and the sacristy. Doors and containers were broken into with massive force, resulting in property damage of around 10,000 euros throughout the building. Police began an investigation.
Theft from Evangelical Church During Service
April 28, 2019, GermanyDuring the Sunday morning worship service on the 28th of April, an unknown perpetrator stole the offertory box from the evangelischen Kirchengemeinde Spaichingen (Baden-Wüttemberg).
Disruptions and Security Concerns at Armenian Genocide Commemorations in Germany
April 27, 2019, GermanyIn Frankfurt am Main, the Diocese of the Armenian Church in Germany and the Central Council of Armenians held a memorial service at the Paulskirche on April 27th for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Just hours before the event, the keynote speaker was forced to cancel his participation due to acute security concerns. The speaker, Mourad Franck Papazian of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Associations in France, received a warning from French security police that he might become a target for Turkish extremists in Germany. Other incidents included damage of cross stones and threats toward ceremony participants.
Thieves Fled Church after Trying to Steal Donation Box
April 26, 2019, GermanyAt about 4:30 pm on April 26th, two people entered the Annakirche in Düren (Nordrhein-Westfalen) and immediately noticed two males: One was kneeling in front of the donation and sacrificial candle container trying to cut open the padlock with a bolt cutter. When the witnesses approached the men, they fled the church.
Bomb Threat Halted Church Commemoration of Armenian Genocide
April 24, 2019, GermanyPolice evacuated the Lutherkirche in the Bad Cannstadt district of Stuttgart on April 24th shortly before a 7pm commemoration service for the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was to take place. The pastor of the Armenian Christian community reported that received a warning from police to clear the church after an anonymous bomb threat was received. Police forces blocked off a large area around the church, employing special forces with machine guns and dogs until late in the evening. A police spokesman neither confirmed nor denied that it had been a bomb threat, but called it a "threat situation" and explosives detection dogs were brought in as a precautionary measure. Police authorities are still investigating.
Windows Damaged and Donations Stolen from Lower Saxony Chruch
April 24, 2019, GermanySometime between April 21st and 24th, unidentified perpetrator(s) broke at least nine windows of a Wilhelmshaven and stole the donation proceeds from the inside the church. Police investigated and looked for witnesses.
Intrustion into Ennepetal Church
April 19, 2019, GermanyUnknown perpetrators broke a window in order to get into the Herz Jesu Catholic Church in Ennepetal sometime between April 19th and 20th. After an investigation, it appeared that nothing was stolen.
Theft from Offertory Box in Euskirchen Church
April 17, 2019, GermanyAround noontime on April 17th, unknown thieves emptied the offertory box in the St. Martin Catholic Church in Euskirchen and fled the church unnoticed. The amount stolen cannot be determined.
Donation Box in Wittmund Church Broken Into
April 16, 2019, GermanyPolice are investigating the April 16th theft of an unknown sum of money from a donation box in the Deichkirche in Carolinensiel.
Dillenburg: Vandalism in the Catholic Church
April 14, 2019, GermanyOn April 14th, between 2 pm and 6 pm, unknown persons vandalized the Herz Jesu Catholic church on Wilhelmsplatz in Dillenburg (in Hesse's Gießen region). They damaged a holy water stoup and candles and scattered leaflets on the floor.
Break-in at Church in Herne
April 14, 2019, GermanyBetween April 14th and 15th, unknown thieves broke into the Protestant Church Baukau in Herne by breaking a window. They tore one donation box from a wall, destroyed another one, and pried open several cupboards and fled with the donations.
Vandalism in Nienborg Church
April 11, 2019, GermanyAccording to a police press release, unknown perpetrators set a brochure on fire and poured wax on an altar cloth in the church in Nienborg. An investigation was opened.
Burglary of Evangelical Church Sacristy in Ratingen
April 11, 2019, GermanyDuring the night of April 11th, burglars broke into the Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Hösel. They gained access to the inside of the church by prying open two back doors. Once inside, they found a safe about 1.20 x 0.80 m in an adjacent storage room. The safe was completely stolen, but there were no items of great value in it.
Offerings from Several Weeks Stolen from Church Office
April 8, 2019, GermanyIn the afternoon of April 8th, a man walked into the St. Marien Catholic Church in Bremerhaven and entered the parish office unnoticed. He stole the dark green bag with the collected offerings from several weeks which amounted to 300-500 euros. A witness informed the sexton who only saw the man fleeing towards the town's pedestrian zone.
Vandalism in Parish Hall
April 7, 2019, GermanyVandals ransacked the restrooms in the parish hall of the Catholic church of St. Leodegar Oberschopfheim (Friesenheim) causing an estimated €5,000 in damage. Toilet bowls and the sink were smashed, stall doors pulled from their hinges, and glass from broken windows and bottles was scattered everywhere. Lighting along the passage between the church and the parish hall was also destroyed.
Church Door Defaced in Münster
April 7, 2019, GermanyDuring the night of April 6th to 7th, unknown vandals defaced the St. Josef Catholic church. A woman discovered "Pädo" in black lettering and a cross painted on the door of the church. Police investigated.
Repeated Vandalism in Coesfeld Church
April 5, 2019, GermanyThere were several reported incidents of vandalism in and around St.-Johannes-Kirche in Bösensell in late March and early April. A windowpane was smashed and wax was poured on the altar and on the sanctuary (chancel) lamp. Lightning rods were torn from the facade of the church, and tools were used to try to break into the Poor Clares donation box. Brochures, prayer books, and tea lights were scattered around the church, including in the holy water basin. Glass bottles containing holy water were smashed to pieces.
Attempted Break-in at New Apostolic Church in Soltau
April 3, 2019, GermanyBetween March 31st and April 3rd unknown offenders tried to pry open a side entrance door of the New Apostolic Church in Soltau without success. However, they caused property damage of about 300 euros.