Damage caused by burglars at the Millennium Chapel.

About €700 in cash was stolen from the Millennium Chapel in Paceville early yesterday after burglars broke in through a window in the reception area.

Father Hilary Tagliaferro, director of the chapel, discovered the crime in the morning when he opened the building and immediately called the police.

Some €400 was stolen from the cash register in the book shop and another €300 was in a collection box taken from the chapel.

A number of items were broken, including statues of baby Jesus, and left in pieces on the floor.

The circular glass window and panes of glass were also broken. “The damage is worth more than the money that was stolen,” Fr Hilary said.

However, nothing was touched inside the chapel, he added.

Footage from the chapel’s security cameras was given to the police.

“It feels like an invasion of privacy – especially since we help the community so much,” Fr Hilary added.

In fact, he pointed out that the burglars would have been helped had they asked. “If they had come during the day and asked for food or money, we would have helped them.”

This is not the first time the chapel has been targeted by burglars. Last July, a 39-year-old Sicilian was jailed for 18 months for stealing from a donation box.

He claimed he opened the box while waiting to speak to Fr Hilary and needed the money to buy a cot for his baby. He was caught on CCTV.