The images from the video surveillance system installed in the church captured his face and movements during the night between Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August in the church of Cristo Risorto, in Porto Torres, when the sacrilegious theft was committed.
The alleged thief was identified and reported to the Sassari Prosecutor's Office by the Carabinieri of the Porto Torres company for having stolen the tabernacle with the pyx , a sacred object containing the consecrated hosts.
The surveillance footage shows a man struggling to move , leaving blood stains everywhere. The man had injured himself while breaking a small window to gain entry to the sacristy and steal liturgical objects . He apparently did not act alone.
The young man, the actual perpetrator of the theft, was helped by some accomplices who were waiting for him outside to take away the tabernacle.
Thanks to targeted investigations by the Carabinieri , the ciboria were recovered, but the tabernacle was not returned . "I regret this," said the parish priest, Don Murgia, "that's why I appealed for it to be returned to the church. In exchange for this gesture, I'm ready to withdraw the complaint. I'm aware that behind these people are families in difficulty."
The priest had been informed of the theft by parishioners authorized to open the church on Sunday morning around 8:00 a.m., as soon as he arrived at the scene. He immediately alerted the Carabinieri, who were then given the CCTV footage . "This system proved invaluable in identifying the culprits," the parish priest emphasized, "an important deterrent to prevent further thefts and ward off potential criminals."
The community of believers was shocked by what happened, coming forward and showing all their generosity to buy back the tabernacle and contribute to the repair of the window.