By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation,
A burglar broke into St. Michael the Archangel Church in downtown Portland three times in one week and stole sacred items. The church is offered a $1,000 reward for return of its sacred tabernacle and a holy item inside it. It was later discovered in a garbage dumpster.
Father Ignacio Llorente said the video shows a man camping on the church steps broke in through the bell tower and stole keys for the office. The thief then returned twice the next day, stealing a bicycle, a speaker, and the gold-painted wooden tabernacle containing the blessed sacrament, or Holy Eucharist. Police arrested a suspect but later released him.
The fact that the thief keeps returning is a problem for victims and an issue with Portland’s defunded police who lack resources for investigations and quick responses. There have been Portland serial consignment shop thieves, serial utility trailer thieves, and serial luxury items thieves.
The church offered a public call to identify the man and to call police. He was wearing a jacket with the image of Mother Teresa on it when he stole the items.
The church also asked the community to “pray for him”.
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