Thieves target Żabbar statue
Best pieces of jewellery in bank for safekeeping
Jewellery was stolen from the statue of Our Lady of Graces after thieves made their way into the Żabbar church on Saturday night.
Although the value of the stolen jewellery has not yet been established, it is estimated to run into thousands of euros.
The police could not confirm how many people were involved but more than one person is suspected to have participated in the theft. Sources said one person was arrested yesterday afternoon and is helping the police in their investigations.
The thieves are thought to have made their way into the church, which dates back to the 17th century, possibly by scaling the scaffolding being used in connection with restoration works on the façade. They are thought to have gone through the belfry and then gained access to the church.
The theft was not noticed until the first Mass, at 6 a.m., when parish priest Fr Sebastian Caruana went to open the Tabernacle for Holy Communion.
Attempts had been made to force open the Tabernacle, the sources said.
A laptop used for power-point presentations during Mass and money from collection boxes were also stolen.
Almost immediately, the parish priest realised that the glass door of the niche holding the statue of Our Lady of Graces, dating back to the 18th century, was open and jewellery was missing.
A man who was attending Mass said he did not even realise something was wrong and he went out on the church's parvis with the rest of the congregation.
The police were called in at about 6.50 a.m. and found the area in the church had been closed off with benches.
Tradition has it that the statue is decorated with jewellery, usually old family heirlooms, left by the family after a grace was granted. However, the bulk and best pieces of jewellery are placed on the statue of Our Lady of Graces during the feast, celebrated on the first Sunday after September 8. This year, it was celebrated on September 13 and immediately after the feast was over most of the jewellery was returned to a bank for safekeeping.
Duty Magistrate Miriam Hayman appointed several experts to help her in the inquiry. Police are still investigating.