HAZLETON -- One of the 10 Commandments is “Thou shall not steal,” but police in Hazleton say that didn't stop someone from breaking into a church and stealing religious items.
Father Jerome Wolbert believes the thieves broke into Saint John's Byzantine Catholic Church on E 20th Street through a window in the basement and made their way upstairs. Then, they broke into the office in the rectory and made off with a 600-pound safe.
“This is the corner where we kept the safe,” said Father Jerome, as he pointed to where the safe once stood in the rectory.
Father Jerome believes the safe was swiped by multiple thieves.
“I don't think that two people could move this safe easily on their own,” he said.
Father Jerome has a residency in the rectory and was asleep during the break-in.
“I'm very grateful that they didn't go further into the rectory looking for anything, because if they had found me who knows what they would have done,” said Father Jerome.
He saythe safe contained money and important religious items. They had been blessed, making them sacred and priceless to the church.
“A special chalice set that somebody had donated several years ago that we use for special occasions,” said Father Jerome. “This is a sacramental object. This is something that's very holy and special.”
Now Hazleton Police Chief Jerry Speziale has a harsh message for whoever is responsible for the theft.
"We want the message to go out loud and clear," said Speziale. "Obviously anyone trying to pawn it, anybody trying to purchase it, anyone that's responsible for it, we're going to pursue them to the end of the earth.'"
People living around the church are praying justice is served.
"It's sick to, theft in general, but in the aspect of, from a church, makes it a thousand times worse," said neighbor Frank Carsia. "I mean it's not right in any sense, but being here next to a church, it mean, it's horrible."
Speziale says if anyone has information or thinks they may have seen something in the area, they should contact the Hazleton Police Department. Calls will remain confidential.
