Break-in at RC Church in Cunupia

The Archdiocese of Port of Spain issued a statement via its official Facebook account on a report of theft at St Augustine RC Church in Cunupia. It read:

There was a break-in at the St Augustine RC Church, Cunupia (a church attached to the Chaguanas Parish) sometime between Tuesday night (May 16) and this morning, Wednesday, with the perpetrator/s stealing a safe which was empty and sacred host tampered with.

The thieves gained entry by cutting locks on a sliding gate located at Hassarath Road and both cutting and bending burglar proofing on a window located on the southern side of the church.

Cupboards were searched in the sacristy. No money was stolen from the Church. A box to collect money from the sale of The Catholic News was broken into, however, it was empty. No one was harmed and the premises were unoccupied at the time of the intrusion.

Parish priest Fr Steve Ransome got the news shortly before 6.30 a.m. He said the incident was upsetting and disappointing.

“My first response, three minutes before celebrating Mass this morning was that I should pray for all including the perpetrators,” he said. It was not the first time the church had been broken into.

The properties committee of the parish was expected to meet today and an assessment of the damage will be done.

The Cunupia police station was contacted, and officers visited the scene after 7 a.m. Investigations are continuing.