Thieves cut a $50,000 bronze statue of Jesus from outside a Catholic church in Santa Ana, California, and drive away with the sculpture. Police say the attackers sever the statue at its feet using a power tool and remove it from its plinth.
Authorities report the incident occurs during the night of August 30. Police say two male suspects wearing dark clothing enter Christ Our Saviour Catholic Church, retrieve an electric cutting tool, and then drag the statue across the church property toward Segerstrom High School, where they are believed to have had a vehicle waiting. A photo released by local police shows bronze feet left behind on the base.
While both outlets describe the theft and the estimated value, their framing differs: the New York Post emphasizes that police are pursuing “thieves” and notes a “key feature” left at the scene, while Jamaica Observer, citing AFP and police statements, provides a more detailed sequence of events and mentions that metal theft is a growing problem in parts of the United States.
