#BreakingNews Burglary and Vandalism at Ancient Catholic Church in Germany with Over $40,000 in Damages

Police report from Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany, a burglary and vandalism at the church of St. James (Jakobus). In the night from Saturday to Sunday, July 2nd, between 7:30 p.m. and 6:45 a.m., there was a burglary with massive damage to property in the Church of St. James in Rüdesheim am Rhein. The unknown perpetrator or perpetrators first tried to get inside the church through an antique stained glass window in Kellerstrasse by severely damaging it by punching a hole in it.

When this didn't work, they levered open a door at the back of the church and got into the rooms on the 1st floor. There they levered open various doors and cupboards and ransacked them. They then went to the front door of the church and pried it open. There they ransacked the altar area and then went to the gallery, where they damaged the organ of the church. No stolen property is known at this time. The material damage is estimated at approx. EUR 38,500. Witnesses who noticed something during the night that could have something to do with the burglary are asked to contact the police in Rüdesheim on 06722-9112 0.
History of the Church
The oldest part of this parish church is the tower chapel (10th century) with two compact columns and cube-shaped capitals (Chapel of Grace today). St. Jakobus was built around 1400. During an air raid during the Second World War, the church burned down on November 25, 1944, and a large part of the inventory fell victim to the fire. From 1946 to 1956 the church was rebuilt in a different form. Today, St. James is a branch church of the parish of Heilig Kreuz Rheingau, the parish church of Rüdesheim has been the so-called "Rheingau Cathedral" in Geisenheim since 2015. (stz)

https://www.wiesbaden.de/en/living-in-wiesbaden/churches-religion/churches/catholic-churches-vicinity/st-jakobus-ruedesheim.php
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https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/47764/5548282