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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 [6], serial utility trailer thieves [7], and serial luxury items [8] 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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