Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB)
Puttur, Dec 23: Cases of theft from alm boxes in four churches in and around Nellyadi were reported on Thursday, December night.
St Stephen's, Blessed Alphonsa, St Sebastian Shiradi and St Joseph Malankara are the four churches where theft was detected on Friday morning.
As if it was not enough, the miscreants have reportedly emptied the bottles of Sacramental wine used during the Masses.
Exact amount of loss may never be known because the alm boxes always remain locked and collection recorded after long intervals, say local sources. However, since a lot of devotees have been visiting the churches in preparation of Christmas, it is thought that amounts stolen could be sizeable.
The locks appear to have been broken open with the help of rods and chisels. The backdoor of one of the churches has been broken open.