Dennis RomeroOrnate and valuable items were stolen from a historic Los Angeles church last week, police said.
The “prized religious articles” are so unique, however, that they'd be easy to recognize, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.
The burglary happened between 9:45 p.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Thursday at the circa-1904 St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in L.A.'s Byzantine-Latino Corridor. The neighborhood south of Koreatown was named for its Greek and Latino heritage.
Among the items taken were a “golden tabernacle, a liturgical furnishing used to house the Eucharist outside of Mass and considered one of the most sacred items in a church,” and “a gold cross used for the procession,” LAPD stated.
The church, adjacent to Loyola High School and Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, also was vandalized, the department said:
The suspect(s) entered the church and ransacked the location, taking several prized religious articles.
… The suspect(s) also knocked over the pulpit used for services, breaking it in half. In addition, multiple glass cases which hold prayer candles were broken.
Credit: Google Maps
Lord have mercy.
The LAPD says the items “have been a staple of the church and sacred symbols to the parishioners who worship there.” In other words, the church wants its stuff back.
If you think you know who did this, detectives would love to hear from you: 213-382-9446.
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