Seven Churches Broken Into
(Hew Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 19. Ministers of Wellington churches are worried about the security of their churches against a rising band of church thieves.
Altogether seven churches have been broken into and valuables taken recently. The latest church affected by the sudden outbreak has been St. Mary of the Angels, in the heart of the city.
A parishioner today found a valuable marble crucifix stolen last week on the roof of the church. Police, priests and parishioners had searched more than a week for the crucifix. Priests at St Mary’s believe the thief managed to get through the skylight above the altar. He then tried to lower himself on to the altar by grasping the crucifix and swinging down. But the crucifix came loose from its socket Unable to get into the ehurch the thief apparently panicked and left the valuable crucifix on the roof. "It is not the first time that something like this has happened,” said the parish priest of St Mary’s, the Rev. Father J. Spillane, S.M. “Other things have been taken from here in the past" Detectives are investigating the church crimes. They warn priests and ministers to secure their churches against intruders.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 1
Word Count
203Seven Churches Broken Into Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 1
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