The Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individual responsible for stealing the laurel crown, gold jewelry, and arrows from the historic statue at St. Sebastian’s National Shrine in Kandana.
The theft occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, April 1, between 2:15 AM and 3:00 AM, and the stolen items were removed from the revered 175-year-old statue.
CCTV footage reviewed by authorities shows a masked individual, dressed in black clothing and a red cap, entering the shrine’s premises by scaling the church’s security fence. The suspect is seen entering from the direction of the boys’ primary school located next to the church and leaving via the same route.
Later, the statue, missing its accessories, was found abandoned on the roof of a building belonging to the boys’ primary school adjacent to the church. Despite the recovery of the statue, the laurel crown, gold jewelry, and seven arrows were still missing, leaving authorities concerned.
In response to the incident, the church has issued a public statement, requesting assistance in locating the stolen items and urging anyone with information to come forward. The St. Sebastian’s National Shrine, along with its priests and local residents, is working alongside the police to recover the missing items and identify those responsible for the theft.
The Kandana Police are actively investigating the case, reviewing CCTV footage from the shrine and surrounding areas, and are focusing their efforts on identifying the thief. Authorities have assured the public that all necessary steps will be taken to bring the perpetrator to justice and recover the stolen items.
Anyone with information regarding the theft is encouraged to contact the Kandana Police to assist in the ongoing investigation.
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