A 38‑year‑old man broke into a church in Żory, Poland on 24 October, stole money, drank communion wine on the premises, and now faces up to ten years in prison.
Break‑in at a church in Żory
On Friday morning, 24 October, police in Żory (Silesian Voivodeship) were called to a church where signs of a break‑in were discovered. A clergy member who found the scene reported the main door was open, a damaged box of money, and a smashed tabernacle. The interior was in disarray, with personal items and liturgical objects scattered, indicating the suspect searched for money.
Monitoring revealed unusual behaviour of the intruder
CCTV footage captured the intruder taking money from the box and a bottle of communion wine. Rather than carrying the wine out, the man drank it on site. Police secured the footage and evidence, enabling rapid identification of the suspect. A clergy member said, “He doesn’t believe anyone can do something like that. It’s a house of God, not a den of thieves!” as quoted by “Dziennik Zachodni.”
Arrest and charges
After days of intensive work, prosecutors arrested a 38‑year‑old Żory resident suspected of the break‑in. He was charged with burglary and theft with broken‑into. A court will decide his fate, with a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison.
