Authorities are currently searching for two individuals accused of stealing a $50,000 bronze statue of Jesus from a church in Orange County.
According to police, the suspects arrived at Christ Our Savior Catholic Church, located at 2000 W. Alton Ave. in Santa Ana, around 2 a.m. on August 30, armed with a bag and an electric cutting tool, which they used to remove the statue.
“One of the suspects produced an electric cutting tool from their bag,” the Santa Ana Police Department reported on Wednesday.
“Both suspects proceeded to cut down the $50,000 bronze statue of Jesus.”
After the statue was severed, the thieves dragged it away from the church property toward Segerstrom High School, where police suspect a getaway vehicle was waiting.
“The suspects loaded the statue into their vehicle and drove off,” authorities stated.
Images released by the police indicated that the statue’s feet were left behind at the crime scene.
This incident marks another theft of a bronze statue from the church; previously, in April, other suspects allegedly stole parts of a different bronze statue from the property after damaging the wooden fencing around the church.
In that earlier case, the thieves also utilized a cutting tool, resulting in significant damage, as per police reports.
These events are part of a troubling trend of bronze thefts occurring throughout Orange County.
Earlier this year, a resident of Long Beach was arrested for allegedly stealing bronze plaques from various locations around the county, facing multiple charges of grand theft and vandalism.
Christ Our Savior Catholic Church, established in 2005, holds five Masses each Sunday.
Anyone with information regarding the theft of the Jesus statue is encouraged to reach out to Detective R. Wilson at 714-245-8551 or via email.
