PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police are searching for a man who broke into a Catholic church in Center City and stole a 125-year-old jeweled crown from a statue of Mary.
It happened around 1 a.m. on Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on 13th Street, between Chestnut and Market streets.
Surveillance video shows the suspect scaling the wall of the church. Police said he smashed a stained-glass window to get inside.
Then, officials said he stole a gold crown from the head of a Mary statue. The crown was adorned with gems that were donated by parishioners following a fire around the year 1900, church leaders told NBC10.
Surveillance video
Investigators believe the suspect was driving a gray Mitsubishi SUV.
Anyone with information is asked to call or text a tip to 215-686-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online.