THE BRONX — A sinner stole about $55,000 in donation money and valuables from a Bronx church earlier this month, according to the church's bishop.
The burglar broke into the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim & Seraphim Spiritual Church, a Pentecostal church at 1570 Walton Ave., through the back door and snatched jewelry, crosses, and money from a donation box around 2 a.m. on Oct. 17, the NYPD said.
"It’s devastating. It’s just a shame," bishop Babatunde Aina said. "If somebody can have the nerve to come into a church and do that to a church of God, it’s a shame. It’s an abomination."
The thief took about $20,000 from the donation box, along with a bishop's ring, chains, a gold-plated ornamental staff, wristwatches and a golden cross that he estimated to be worth $35,000, according to Aina.
The roof of the church is leaking right now, Aina continued, and the theft has made the prospect of fixing it much more difficult.
"Where are we going to get the money from?" he asked. "Right now, we’re helpless. We’re looking for help."
Video released by police shows the suspect, who appears to be bald, wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans. He was puffing on a cigarette and pushing a shopping cart filled with garbage bags in front of what appears to be a bodega sign.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
