Yukon Church Burglarized Day After Christmas, Church Officials Say

Thieves targeted a church in Yukon, allegedly making off with nearly $30,000 in property.

The discovery was made just one day after Christmas.

“The people who would rob a church would rob a bank, and scam your grandma,” said Father Rex Arnold of Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church.

Following the celebration of Christ's birth, reports show thieves were wreaking havoc at Saint John Nepomuk Catholic Church.

“I suspect they came early in the night. They knew it would be quiet after Christmas,” said Arnold, who made the discovery. “I came over, I didn't see the padlock and the door was up.”

He said what some had worked so hard to build and collect is now gone.

“They even took heaters off the wall, they took vices, they really went through a lot of trouble to remove items that were permanently affixed in the shop,” said Arnold.

But in spite of their loss, the church hasn't gone without.

“We don't know what God is up to with this, but he has a plan,” said Arnold.

“This past snowstorm we didn’t have anything to clean the sidewalks, so we had neighbors and parishioners that came to our rescue and cleared it all off,” said Arnold.

And while they'd like to see their property returned, Arnold said they're praying for something much more important.

“We can replace the things that they took, but only they can allow for their heart to be changed and that would be our greatest hope for them,” said Arnold.      

Police are reviewing surveillance video from businesses near the church.