By Jessica Easthope
The gift shop inside the foyer of Our Lady of Fatima Church in East Elmhurst, Queens was found ransacked and religious items were thrown all over the floor. The physical damage has since been cleaned up and some of it repaired but the staff and parishioners said the emotional damage is going to last.
Building manager, Leo Martinez said it must have taken serious force to get in. The real marble wall was broken and when he came across it, it was powder on the ground.
“It’s sort of like a violation to your own property, this is pretty much a home for me so you take it pretty personal when things like that happen,” he said.
Early morning May 18, a man came with a bag of tools and broke into the small gift shop, making off with a garbage bag of cash and religious items worth $1,500.
“It’s shocking, someone comes into your home and your own space and violates,” Father Darrell Da Costa said.
Father Da Costa reported the crime to police immediately. The church will now get more cameras and new alarms and locks for its vicinity.
The pastor hopes people in the community feel safe and welcomed in church, including the man who burglarized it.
“It’s an opportunity to pray for that person to turn around and do better, with God’s help, turn around, turn to god and people will help you,” he said.
“I don’t wish bad on anybody,” said Leo. “But this hurt people emotionally.”
Police are now asking for the public’s help finding the person responsible. If you have any information you can call NYPD’s Crime Stoppers.