Thousands of dollars in donations were stolen from St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Community Church in Shelby Township after Easter services, police and church officials said today.
Shelby Township Police Chief Roland Woelkers said a church in Clinton Township also was burglarized at some point after Sunday services. An official with Clinton Township police could not immediately be reached.
It’s estimated that upward of $40,000 was stolen from St. Therese of Lisieux, said the church’s administrative manager, Linda Maccarone. Woelkers said two chalices, valued at between $5,000 and $10,000, also were stolen.
Woelkers said the burglary was well planned and “sophisticated.” He said the thief or thieves used special tools to cut into a safe
room sometime between 10 p.m. Sunday and this morning, when the theft was discovered.
“We’re looking at probably a professional crew,” Woelkers said.
Maccarone said the church, which has a parish of roughly 3,000 families, was broken into through a glass side door. She said a maintenance person discovered the break-in at about 6 a.m. today.
She said the church does not have a security system, but was considering having one installed after a church in Utica was broken into a few weeks ago. Woelkers said police don’t believe the Utica break-in is related.
Maccarone said most of the money taken safe had been collected during Easter services. The money stolen would have gone toward church operating expenses, as well as toward charities, she said.
Woelkers said churches are being encouraged to install security systems.
Maccarone said some may question who would steal from a church.
“But there are people out there with no conscience whatsoever and they don’t seem to have a problem with that,” she said. “I think that’s the sad state of our society.”
http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20130401/NEWS05/304010020/-40-000-stolen-from-Michigan-church-after-Easter-services
Pray to God they are caught and pray justice will prevail.

