SACKVILLE, N.B. – Twelve New Brunswick churches have been hit by theft in the past three weeks, spanning from Miramichi right down to the Southeastern part of the province. The thieves have stolen copper, valuables and money, and have done some damage to the century-old buildings.
Main Street Baptist Church sits in the heart of Sackville, right across the street from the RCMP detachment. The church was broken into — in broad daylight — on July 21.
“Those who had broken in had stolen a couple gaming consoles and a laptop out of our teen room,” said Assistant Pastor, Danny Barrett.
The break-ins began between July 5–13, at churches in Southfield and Norton. In the following week four more churches were hit — in New Canaan, Kouchibouguac, and two in Memramcook.
But the situation really escalated Sunday, with thefts from six more churches — from Miramichi Bay all the way down to Sackville.
Barrett thinks about $1,100 worth of valuables were stolen from Main Street Baptist, but he says the church realizes, it’s just “stuff.”
“We need to be not flippant about what was lost or how we use the things that we have here at the church but we are really thinking about and praying for the people that are behind it,” he said.
Further North, Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue in Richibucto-Village was also hit Sunday. The tabernacle — a focal point of the church — was forced open with a crowbar, cupboards gone through, and a door forced open. But the door actually leads to nothing, which meant damage to the wall on the other side.
“It wasn’t highly damaged but nevertheless people did not respect it’s purpose, a church of worship,” said Father Jean Bernard Mallais. “People here are longstanding, have been here all their lives and they’re sort of saddened. We have goose-pimples to think that the tabernacle was desecrated.”
Mallais says they are now considering installing cameras within the church.
RCMP officers are investigating and two crime analysts have linked the string of thefts together.
“Time of day, type of crimes and in this case they were instrumental in realizing this pattern of crime within this large geographical area,” said Sgt. Jeff Johnston of the Southeast RCMP detachment.
The RCMP is asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the areas of the churches on the following dates to contact them:
Between July 5 and 13
- Southfield United Church, Route 865, Southfield
Between July 10 and 11
- Sacred Heart Church, Route 124, Norton
July 14
- Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Church, Aboujagane Road, Memramcook
Between July 14 and 17
- New Canaan United Baptist Church, Route 112, New Canaan
July 17
- Notre-Dame-de-l’Annonciation Church, rue Principale, Memramcook
July 20
- St. James Catholic Church, North Kouchibouguac Road, Kouchibouguac
July 21
- Saint-Michael’s by the Sea Roman Catholic Church, Route 117, Miramichi Bay
- Carmel United Church, South Napan Road, Napan
- Saint-Joseph’s Church, Route 126, Kent Junction
- Dorchester Baptist Church, Cape Road, Dorchester
- Main Street Baptist Church, Main Street, Sackville
- Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue Church, Route 505, Richibuctou-Village
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