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A statue of Jesus on a crucifix, along with two other religious figures, has been reported stolen from the premises of St Luke’s Church in Irlams o’th Height, Salford. The theft has left parishioners and local residents shocked and dismayed.
The Parish of Our Lady of Hope shared the disheartening news on social media, suspecting that an electric saw was used in the theft. Along with the statue of Jesus on the crucifix, a kneeling angel and a kneeling figure of St. Bernadette were also taken. The parish believes that “drag marks” found on the ground indicate that the figures were transported to a vehicle parked in the church’s car park.
Authorities and the parish are urging potential witnesses to come forward and assist with the investigation. Local residents have been asked to check their doorbell cameras to determine the precise time the statues were stolen. It is currently believed that the theft occurred overnight between January 21 and 22.
Paul Ashton, a parishioner, expressed the shock and disappointment of the community, stating, “The parishioners are shocked that such a theft should happen to us. The statue of Jesus on the crucifix was originally in our old church and means so much to us. It is not just our parishioners, but also our neighbours, who find it unbelievable that we should be targeted in this way. We would ask anyone who is offered these statues to get in touch with us, and we are grateful for any information that will help get these three statues returned to us.
The theft of religious statues has elicited strong reactions from the community, with one person describing it as “absolutely heartbreaking” and another expressing outrage, stating, “That’s disgusting! Is nothing sacred?”
