NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The NYPD released photos Sunday of a man wanted for stealing, and then returning, a religious statue valued at $100,000 from Manhattan's Cathedral of St. John the Divine last week in what church officials are calling a "theological protest."
Church officials said that the statue is a crucifix, but instead of having the body of Christ on the cross, a woman's body is depicted. She is referred to as "Christa."
Police said that at 8:31 p.m. on Dec. 3, a man was handling a religious statue located outside of St. John the Divine at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, near West 112th Street.
When the robber noticed security in the building, he dropped the statue and ran, officials said.
Reverend Dean Patrick Malloy of St. John the Divine told 1010 WINS/WCBS 880 that the statue was taken and then returned an hour or two later, undamaged.
According to Malloy, when it was returned, the statue had a note on it that read "This does not belong in God’s house."
"We think that the theft was not the theft of a precious object, for the sake of having a precious object, but the theft was a theological, political protest statement,” Malloy said.
The suspect, who is depicted in media provided by the NYPD, is described as a man between 45 and 50, 5’10” and 220 pounds. He was last seen wearing all black.
“What I would say to this person is it’s always possible to come to any Episcopal church and engage in theological conversations. It doesn’t have to result in any kind of violence, it does not have to result in any kind of illegality like theft," Malloy added.
St. John the Divine is the Episcopal Diocese of New York and is the biggest cathedral in the world, according to the church. It is also one of the five biggest church buildings in the world.
The cathedral has gained fame in New York City for its annual St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.