This 18-karat gold tabernacle, valued at $2 million, was stolen from St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, New York, last week, authorities said.
(CNN) —
Thieves stole a $2 million tabernacle from a Brooklyn Catholic church last week, decapitating angel statues flanking the altar in the process, police said.
According to authorities, power tools were used to "forcefully cut" the altar and access the 18-karat gold tabernacle.
The robbery occurred at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in the Park Slope area, sometime between 6:30 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the New York Police Department.
The tabernacle dates back to when the church was built in the 1890s and "is irreplaceable due to its historical and artistic value," the Diocese of Brooklyn explained in a statement.
"The Holy Eucharist housed within the Tabernacle was thrown all over the altar," the statement added.
The head of an angel statue flanking the altar was removed during the robbery, authorities said.
"This is devastating as the tabernacle is the focal point of our church outside of worship, holding the Body of Christ, the Eucharist, which is given to the sick and homebound," said Father Frank Tumino, pastor of St. Augustine, in the statement of the diocese.
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"Knowing that a thief entered the most sacred space of our beautiful Church and went to great lengths to break into a security system is an egregious act of disrespect," Tumino added.
The NYPD has asked the public to share any leads or information related to the theft.
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