Christ Church Cathedral robbed

Wed, Jul 13th 2011, 11:04 AM

A man desecrated and looted the alms box in the historic nave at Christ Church Cathedral yesterday afternoon as a group of American tourists watched in horror, said cathedral administrator Tanya Hunt-Major.

For at least 165 years, the resplendent bell tower and stained glass windows of Christ Church Cathedral have been a marvel for Bahamians and tourists, who frequently visit the landmark to marvel at its beauty as well as pray and meditate.

But that might all change after the donation box at the front of the Anglican church in the heart of downtown Nassau was desecrated and looted by a crowbar-wielding thief yesterday.
The robbery of the oft-described "mother church" of the Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands came almost two weeks to the day after the offices of St. Agnes Anglican Church, Blue Hill Road, were ransacked and a safe was stolen by thieves under cover of darkness.

However, yesterday's culprit was much bolder, walking straight through the cathedral's doors around noon with his crowbar in tow, said Major.  She claimed that as a group of American tourists viewed the inside of the church, she was in her office on the phone when she heard the tinkling of metal hitting floor tiles.

Major said she sensed trouble and told the person on the other end of the phone to call the police.  She said that as she was exiting her office, the tourists were filing out of the church, showing no indication that anything was wrong.  However, she said that seconds later a man dressed in a black T-shirt, cap and blue jeans walked out, holding a crowbar in one hand, and a fast-food cup in the other.

Major said that's when she realized the church had been robbed.  And it wasn't the first time.
Major said another robbery occurred about two years ago, prompting church officials to replace and reinforce the alms box.  But despite the alms box being locked and padded with iron, the reinforcements were no match for the crowbar the robber reportedly used.

Major said she tried to follow the suspect, but he began running once he realized he was being followed along King Street.  Police dusted for fingerprints and looked for any clues that could lead them to the suspect.  Church officials have no idea how much the robber got away with from the donations box.  The incident has church officials once again contemplating the security of the church and its staff moving forward.

Major says the church is typically left open for anyone to pray and meditate, but now the church will consider making necessary changes and possibly limiting public access to the famous cathedral.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

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