Alberta 2009
As reported by Red Deer Advocate, a statue of the Virgin Mary had been stolen from the grotto at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Calgary, Alberta.
on August 9, the priest of St. Albert the Great arrived to find that the statue of the Virgin Mary had been taken from its place inside the grotto. Fr. Kevin Tumback came to set up for mass on Sunday when he noticed she had been taken. The statue is worth $2,500.
At first thought Fr. Kevin speculated vandalism, however, no damages or graffiti had been found. He noted that someone would have had to use tools to remove the plexiglass and not damage it.
The statue had been given to the church by a family and installed a year prior.
Update: The stolen Virgin Mary statue found by city workers beside a gravel road, reports UPI.
The statue had been found in bad condition, burned and hands broken off, with graffiti writing on her chin, “420?”
Police were called. Fr. Tumback had been in contact with other priests about what to do with the statue and what could be done for it.
CBC News reported that two men, a 19-year old and 21-year old have been charged in connection with this incident. Both have received charges of theft and mischief to property.
The two men were arrested and charged on Friday after an anonymous tip off from the public. Police believe that the statue had been stolen after a night of heavy drinking.
Police also believe it was just a prank as there was no religious or ritualistic motives to this theft.