Toms River parish burglarized, vandalized following Papal viewing gathering
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By David Karas | Correspondent
An Ocean County parish was burglarized and vandalized in the hours following a gathering during which faithful watched a simulcast of Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Philadelphia – during which they heard the call from the Pontiff to embrace and spread signs of love to others.
On Sept. 28, police responded to St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, to investigate the reported burglary and theft. According to officials, at some point overnight someone entered the church, which had been closed Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. following the special service in honor of the Pope’s Mass.
“The suspects entered the main area and broke open numerous collection boxes that hold cash donations for the poor,” police said in a statement. “The suspects also broke apart a wooden memorial candle stand and did several thousands of dollars in damage.”
The amount in donations that was stolen has not been determined, police said.
"It is an unfortunate thing," said Father G. Scott Shaffer, pastor.
He believes that the suspect might have hidden in the church during the gathering.
"When our guy came and locked up the church, they were in there with the intent that they were going to get money out of our poor boxes," he said, adding that there was no sign of a break-in.
He said that the damage indicates that they might have had a crow bar, which they used to pry open some of the boxes to steal donated money, which Father Shaffer estimates at no more than $50 to $100. More destruction was done to the wooden stands with electric candles for prayer, he said, one of which was torn apart.
"That is where the real damage is," he said.
"Luckily, they didn't take any object, (and) they didn't do any damage to the artwork," he said. "They just wanted cash."
He added, "it is a sad state of affairs that somebody is in that situation, that they would do something like that."
The Toms River Police Department issued a call on social media for help in locating those responsible, urging anyone with information to contact Detective Robert O’Neill at 732-349-0150, ext. 1255.
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By David Karas | Correspondent
An Ocean County parish was burglarized and vandalized in the hours following a gathering during which faithful watched a simulcast of Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Philadelphia – during which they heard the call from the Pontiff to embrace and spread signs of love to others.
On Sept. 28, police responded to St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, to investigate the reported burglary and theft. According to officials, at some point overnight someone entered the church, which had been closed Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. following the special service in honor of the Pope’s Mass.
“The suspects entered the main area and broke open numerous collection boxes that hold cash donations for the poor,” police said in a statement. “The suspects also broke apart a wooden memorial candle stand and did several thousands of dollars in damage.”
The amount in donations that was stolen has not been determined, police said.
"It is an unfortunate thing," said Father G. Scott Shaffer, pastor.
He believes that the suspect might have hidden in the church during the gathering.
"When our guy came and locked up the church, they were in there with the intent that they were going to get money out of our poor boxes," he said, adding that there was no sign of a break-in.
He said that the damage indicates that they might have had a crow bar, which they used to pry open some of the boxes to steal donated money, which Father Shaffer estimates at no more than $50 to $100. More destruction was done to the wooden stands with electric candles for prayer, he said, one of which was torn apart.
"That is where the real damage is," he said.
"Luckily, they didn't take any object, (and) they didn't do any damage to the artwork," he said. "They just wanted cash."
He added, "it is a sad state of affairs that somebody is in that situation, that they would do something like that."
The Toms River Police Department issued a call on social media for help in locating those responsible, urging anyone with information to contact Detective Robert O’Neill at 732-349-0150, ext. 1255.
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