More than $11,000 in collections was stolen a church in the Rhawnhurst section of Philadelphia Sunday.
A thief broke into the basement office of the Resurrection of Our Lord church sometime after services Sunday and stole thousands of dollars worth of collections from the church safe.
According to Father Joseph Howarth, who has served as a priest in and around the city for more than 30 years, such a crime has never happened in his experience before.
Philadelphia Police Lt. Mark Burgmann said that there was no sign of forced entry. He has a theory that the thief hid inside the church until after it closed Sunday.
There was no damage to any part of the building or the safe, which suggests someone had the combination, say police. Police are interviewing all church employees.
Howarth said that he is saddened by the breach of trust and the money lost that was meant to help the church and others.
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