Burglar Used Crucifix to Pry Open Collections Box of Lauderdale Church

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Jesus died for our sins, but that doesn't mean thieves should use his crucifix as a crowbar.

​It's one thing to break one of the Ten Commandments -- in this case, Thou Shalt Not Steal. It's another thing to break that commandment by stealing from a church -- in this case, the St. John the Baptist Church on Bayview Drive in Fort Lauderdale.

But this burglar turned a sinful triple play, using the church's most sacred symbol as the instrument of theft. From a Fort Lauderdale police news release:

Detectives have learned that the suspect entered the church by breaking a window. The suspect then retrieved a crucifix from the altar, which was used as a pry bar to gain entry into the donation box.

Photo: Fort Lauderdale Police

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The suspect was able to enter the donation box where candles are lit in religious ceremony. The suspect fled with an unknown amount of cash.

To be sure, this crime pales in comparison to those committed by the Catholic Church. Or at least the release made no mention of the thief's having covered up the rape of children by priests. Still. Stealing is wrong, no matter the victim.

In any case, that's a surveillance shot of the suspect on the left. And here's the info to help bring him to justice:

The suspect is described as a W/M, thin build, he appears to have a tattoo on the outside portion of his right lower leg, and it appears he suffered a significant cut to his body. The cut appears to have happened during the break-in as there was a large amount of blood left behind.

Anyone with information regarding this burglary or who knows the identity of the suspect is encouraged to contact Detective Thomas Capano at 954-828-5526 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.