Burglars ransack, defile Mormugao church items

VASCO, DEC 20
Religious items were ransacked and defiled from the tabernacle and sacristy when burglars broke into the St Francis Xavier Church at the harbour early Monday morning.
According to sources, burglars entered the church by breaking open the latch on the side door. However, their efforts to decamp with cash were foiled as the donation box of church had been emptied a day before the burglary.
Speaking to reporters, Parish Priest Fr Frank Pinto said religious items from the sacristy and tabernacle were ransacked and tampered with, while the statue of Our Lady of Piety was also tampered with.
“There was also an attempt made to rob valuables from the church,” he said.
Fr Pinto informed that local youth were working till late Sunday night to prepare the Christmas crib and had later slept in the church hall.
“As the side door of the church was open, I had thought the youth may have accidentally left it unlocked. When I checked with them, they confirmed that the door had been locked,” said Fr Pinto.
“The Holy Communion was also ransacked and statue of Our Lady of Piety was brought down from the altar, suggesting that an attempt was made to steal religious items from the church,” said the parish priest.
“We had removed money, collected during the Sunday masses, from the donation box on Sunday evening. As such, the burglars could not steal the cash. Nothing else was found missing from the church,” he added.
Mormugao Deputy Superintendent of Police Umesh Gaonkar also stated that attempts were made to steal cash or some valuables from the church.
“Religious items were ransacked but nothing was reported missing from the church,” said DySP Gaonkar.
Incidentally, the burglars damaged two two-wheelers parked outside the church. One of them, an Activa scooter, was pushed into a valley near the church.
“The burglars may have damaged the two-wheelers out of frustration as they were unable to decamp with cash or valuables from the church,” said Gaonkar.
Voicing concern over the incident, Moderator of the Parish Pastoral Council Edward Fernandes has demanded that police intensify night patrolling in the area.