NOTHING’S SACRED

CRIME WAVE HITS CITY CHURCH

TOWNSVILLE thieves have sunk to new lows, stealing from a church amid a huge spike in property crime.

The Bulletin revealed yesterday that in the past week Townsville had seen a sharp increase in stolen cars and break- ins, with 16 vehicles stolen in the first half of this week and more than 30 homes broken into.

The St Teresa’s Church at Garbutt is one of the latest targets, with members of the parish combing through the house of worship yesterday after thieves broke in between April 30 and noon on Thursday.

Catholic Diocese of Townsville spokesman Neil Helmore said with no cash kept on the premises, it was hard to believe someone would target the church.

Mr Helmore said all that appeared to have been stolen was tea and coffee, an urn, altar clothes, towels, a mop and a broom.

“They are just really silly things and most of them are not worth anything to anyone else,” he said. “Replacing these items really puts a limit on what we do have to give back to the people.”

Mr Helmore said while Townsville’s Catholic churches tried to keep their doors open for those in need, it may be something that has to be reconsidered.

“It certainly makes it difficult to think a church, which is a house of God and place of worship, is being targeted,” he said. “We try and keep our doors open as much as possible but there is that sense of we need to protect what belongs to the parishion- ers, so do we need to close the doors?”

Townsville Rapid Action Patrol’s Inspector Joe Kitching said since last Saturday, the Property Crime Unit had charged 15 people – 10 adults and five juveniles – with 39 offences relating to crime in the area.

Those arrests are in addition to the work being conducted as part of Operation Papa Advance, which began almost three weeks ago targeting property crime offenders.

“Police certainly seek the public’s support to lock and secure their premise so they reduce the chance of becoming a victim,” he said.