CARROLL GARDENS — A burglar allegedly stayed overnight inside Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Parish on Dec. 1, and while in the church reportedly broke into three wooden collection boxes and got away with about $200 before fleeing early Monday morning.

The man was seen being inside the church on video surveillance footage, which was turned over to police, said Msgr. Guy Massie, the pastor. He said officers recognized the man from previous encounters with police. 

NYPD officials said no arrests have been made as of Dec. 3. 

Early reports that two people may have been involved could not be confirmed. The Tablet asked for copies of the images, but NYPD officials declined.

“We tend to think maybe it was a homeless man looking for shelter because it was such a cold night,” Msgr. Massie said. “No one was hurt. So, thank God we’re okay.”

The incident began around 11:30 p.m. and ended with the man’s departure around 5 a.m., Msgr. Massie said. The pastor added that it is unclear how the man entered the church. He speculated that a front door may have been unlocked if its vertical bolt was not properly seated into the floor.

Msgr. Massie said he was about to enter the church around 6:45 a.m. when a sacristan called him to report the damage.

“When I walked into the sacristy, we discovered that the sacristy drawers were open, but nothing was touched,” Msgr. Massie said.

Next, he checked the tabernacles in the church and a chapel, and they too, were untouched, as well as the parish’s collection of ornate statuary, he said.

“I think he was just after the money,” Msgr. Massie said.

The three collection boxes for lighting candles — two at the front of the church, and one in back — were broken open, and the contents were missing, he said. Msgr. Massie estimated that about $200 could have been taken because that is how much the boxes typically collect each Sunday. 

A can of spray paint was left on the celebrant’s chair — the seat where the priest sits during Mass — but no graffiti was found inside the church, according to Msgr. Massie. 

He said the NYPD were summoned. They checked for fingerprints and collected some evidence, including the spray-paint can.

Meanwhile, life continued as normal as possible at the church. Msgr. Massie said morning prayers were held at 8 a.m., followed by Mass a half hour later. However, the celebration was done “gingerly,” he said, because police were still investigating.

“We had Mass as we usually would,” he said. “It’s just that I couldn’t sit in the chair. And I said the prayers here in the aisle. I never thought of canceling Mass or morning prayer.

“We would do that outside if we had to.” 

Msgr. Massie acknowledged recent vandalism at Catholic churches in the Diocese of Brooklyn and the rest of the world. Still, he did not believe the burglary at his parish was a desecration. He said the incident was cause for vigilance, and annoyance was justified, but not anger. The Mass included prayers for the perpetrator.

“I think as word gets out, we’ll tell people not to be angry,” Msgr. Massie said.

Anyone with information can call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Also, tips can be sent online to https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org.