Someone stole a $2 million gold relic from an NYC church after outsmarting a 'burglar-proof' safe
- An unknown thief or thieves stole a $2 million gold relic from a church in Brooklyn, New York.
- The "irreplaceable" missing item was a solid gold tabernacle, built in 1895 and decorated with jewels.
A historic Brooklyn church was vandalized and an "irreplaceable" solid gold relic inside was stolen last week, AP News reported.
The culprit or culprits broke into St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, known as the "Notre Dame" of Park Slope, sometime between May 26 and 28. They made off with a 19th-century tabernacle made of 18-carat gold and decorated with jewels that's valued at $2 million.
Father Frank Tumino, the pastor of St. Augustine, discovered the theft on Saturday, the New York Times reported.
"To know that a burglar entered the most sacred space of our beautiful Church and took great pains to cut into a security system is a heinous act of disrespect," Tumino said in a statement issued by the diocese.
The tabernacle, a vessel built to hold Holy Communion materials, was reportedly protected by its own "burglar-proof" security system that included an electronic safe and inch-thick steel plates. The steels plates were reportedly cut through with a power saw.
The artifact was built in 1895, restored twice since then, and is considered to be one of the most expensive tabernacles in the country, according to the AP. The statement from the diocese following the theft said the tabernacle is "irreplaceable due to its historical and artistic value."
The vandalism continued throughout the church — nearby angel statues were decapitated and materials inside the stolen tabernacle were thrown onto the altar, according to the diocese's statement.
Security camera recordings were also stolen during the incident, which police suspect occurred between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon while the church was closed for construction.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and its not clear whether one or more people were involved.