Police are investigating a burglary at the Santa Rosa RC Church, corner of Woodford and Sanchez Streets, Arima, in which church donations and stocks were taken.
Sheldon Ramdeen, property manager, told the Catholic News that last Sunday when the sacristan went to open the church at 5.35 a.m. she observed four donation boxes with the names of the saints were broken. The thief is believed to have gained entry through a window at the southern side of the church.
Checks indicated the thief tried to break into the Adoration Chapel but was unsuccessful. He defecated outside the doorway of the chapel. He gained entry to the north parish hall and pilfered refreshment stocks stored in cupboards used by parish groups.
Ramdeen said the presbytery “was not touched”. Footage from close-circuit cameras capturing the intruder was provided to the police. Ramdeen said repairs would be done on windows and burglar proofing which were damaged to gain entry to the church.
The Larceny Act Clause 26 states: “Any person who— (a) breaks and enters any place of divine worship and commits any arrestable offence therein; or (b) breaks out of any place of divine worship, having committed any arrestable offence therein, is guilty of sacrilege and liable to imprisonment for ten years.”