PANJIM: Thieves broke into the Se Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Old Goa and stole cash Rs 55,000 from the office drawer and other electronic equipment, in what appears to be a pre-planned crime. Considering that CCTV footage has been proving crucial to crack an offense, the unidentified miscreants stole the DVR of the CCTV cameras in order to escape identification.
On a complaint filed by the Old Goa Parish Priest Fr Alfred Vaz, Old Goa police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 457 (house-trespass/house-breaking by night) and 380 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code while a manhunt is underway to track down the accused.
The windows were broken and the window grills were also cut indicating forcible entry into the Church. Fr Vaz told the police that the accused decamped with Rs 55,000 cash kept inside the drawers of the table besides one DVR unit. It was learnt that no artefacts or items of historical importance were stolen.
The break-in reportedly occurred between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. Sources said that Fr Vaz who was the first to notice something suspicious near the Church office immediately called the police and lodged a complaint.
Dog squads and fingerprint experts were pressed into service to collect evidence as the investigation team is also working on other leads to trace the identity of the miscreants. The 16th century Church is a UNESCO world heritage site and popular among tourists, who throng in large numbers every year.
