Shelby Township Parish Broken Into

The night of Easter Sunday, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Shelby Township was broken into and its Easter collection, and other items including chalices, were stolen. The thief, or thieves, penetrated four doors and used tools to open the church vault. The amount of money taken is estimated at about $40,000.

The theft was the third at a Macomb County parishes this year, and the second that appeared to involve sophisticated means of breaking through locked doors and safes. St. Lawrence Parish in Utica was similarly broken into in February.

Churches in the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit on Monday were cautioned to be vigilant against possible thefts.