Thieves came under the cover of darkness to a California church with an electric cutting tool. What they carried away was hard to miss.
A $50,000 bronze statue of Jesus was cut from its base and stolen from Christ Our Savior Catholic Church in Santa Ana, California, in a brazen early-morning theft.
According to KTLA 5, two men wearing dark clothes went onto the church property around 2 a.m. Aug. 30 with a bag. Citing the Santa Ana Police Department, the outlet reported that one suspect pulled an electric cutting tool from the bag then cut the bronze statue from its base.
The thieves then took the statue and headed toward Segerstrom High School, where authorities believe a getaway vehicle was waiting. The suspects allegedly took the statue inside and left.
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Perhaps the most jarring image came afterward: police-released photos showed the feet of the Jesus statue still attached to its base.
Whether these thieves were motivated solely by the value of the bronze or something else remains unknown. Police have not identified the latest incident as religiously motivated.
Still, there is something deeply unsettling about the image left behind: Jesus cut from the church grounds, with only the feet of the statue remaining.
Authorities are continuing to search for the suspects.
To watch footage from the incident, click here.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
