by The Tablet Staff

EAST ELMHURST — Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a suspect who broke into Our Lady of Fatima Church in East Elmhurst and stole statues, other religious items and cash on May 18.

The NYPD issued the request for public assistance on May 27. According to police, the break-in took place at approximately 5:30 a.m. at the church, located at 25-02 80th St. 

An unknown individual entered the church through an unlocked door and used burglar tools to force open an inner perimeter door, police said. 

The burglar took approximately $60 in cash and assorted statues and other religious articles worth $890. The stolen items were part of an inventory of things meant for sale at the church, police said. The suspect then left the building and fled southbound toward 30th Avenue.

There was no one else in the church at the time of the break-in, police said.

The burglary took place five days after the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, celebrated every year on May 13.

The Diocese of Brooklyn issued a statement on the incident, calling on the burglar to return the stolen items. “The robbery at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Queens is disturbing, but we thank God no one was injured,” the statement read. “We hope the person who committed this robbery will not desecrate the religious articles and statues which are meaningful to the faithful. We hope they will do the right thing and return what they stole from the church.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crimestoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS, or by texting 274367 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.