Bishop Hopes Stolen Money, Religious Artifacts Will Be Returned To Bronx Church
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are hoping surveillance footage can help them find out who stole more than $35,000 worth of money and other items from a church in the Bronx.
The incident occurred at the Eternal Sacred Order Church in the Mount Eden section of the borough around 2 a.m. on Oct. 17. One or more suspects apparently got in over a back fence and broke past a side door, CBS 2's Steve Langford reported.
Religious artifacts, including a gold-plated crozier and cross were stolen, along with $28,000 in cash, said Bishop Phillip Aina.
"They took the bishop's rings, they took a lot of jewelry, they took money also," Aina said. "We're helpless right now, without the money we're disabled."
Even the microphones were stolen from the church band, Langford reported.
Aina told 1010 WINS' Al Jones the same thieves returned two days later, broke in through the side door and took whatever they missed the first time. He said the replacement door put in after the first robbery was pried open too.
"So all the church belongings, the money, the materials, everything is gone," he said.
Aina claims, including the cash, the church's loss totals more than $50,000.
The bishop is forgiving though, and said he's holding out hope that the money and religious artifacts will be returned, Langford reported.
"I keep them in my prayers for God to change them and turn them around for the betterment of the community," Aina said.
The bishop said services will be held at the church this weekend no matter what.
The NYPD has released surveillance video of a suspect.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
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