SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Crystal-clear surveillance video shows a thief who is wanted by police in connection with a robbery at a Shelby Township church.
Church leaders want to catch the man too, but for a different reason than police.
Catholics come to St. George Chaldean Catholic Church to reflect and pray for forgiveness. The church was built about seven years ago, but this is the first time surveillance cameras captured a bold act on church property.
"The understanding is that (Mother Mary) takes those prayers to Jesus because he's the mediator between God and man," said Father Matthew Zetouna.
The Marian Grotto at St. George Chaldean Church is holy to worshipers.
"As much as it is a holy place, it's been dedicated," Zetouna said. "It is a sacred place, officially."
But surveillance footage shows a man last Friday around 1 a.m. going right to the steel-plated offering box, fiddling with the lock -- even kicking it and pulling and pushing it with a crowbar -- and eventually prying it open right in front of the Holy Mother statue.
"He clearly seemed to know what he was doing," Zetouna said. "There were moments when he was assuming the posture of prayer. Whether he was praying, I don't know, or trying to look inconspicuous, I don't know."
While Zetouna said he is saddened by the theft, he said the sinful act doesn't shock him.
"I'm not surprised by anybody's sins," he said. "I hear confessions all the time."
But the place where people usually go to ask for forgiveness of sins isn't usually where they commit new ones.
Video shows the man scooping up the cash, but that isn't the biggest worry for the church .
"I wish he would have come to ask for help," Zetouna said. "We would have loved to help out if he needed anything. We don't hold anything against him. I don't care about paper."
The man is seen driving away in a minivan.
Police want to catch him, but the church wants to pray for him.
"I wish he would have come in the right way and not (the) manner he did come," Zetouna said.
The church usually empties the donation box once a week, but hadn't taken the cash out in two weeks, so it's believed the man got away with close to $800.
The church is working to put a better reinforced steel door on the donation box.
While the church wants to pray for the man, police are looking to lock him up. If you recognize the man or the minivan, you are asked to call police.
