For the third time this year, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Denver was the target of a robbery. They are asking for help to identify those who are responsible for taking donation money of the faithful.
The latest incident happened on Feb. 20, when surveillance cameras captured the moment when a man broke the donation box with a hammer.
The donation box is placed outside the sanctuary so that the faithful can bring their donations at any time of the day and have a space to pray. According to the shrine’s pastor Father Benito Hernandez, up to $500 a week is normally collected, and that money is often used to help those in need and non-profit organizations.
For Father Hernandez, these incidents are causing him great frustration, as it seems that the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe has become a favorite place for thieves; in less than two months, the donation box has been stolen three times. The first incident happened on Jan. 20, the second on Jan. 25 and the last one on Monday, Feb. 20.
“It is not right. People are coming for devotion, love to the saints and it’s not fair that people come and are stealing the money,” Father Hernandez said.
For now, the sanctuary has asked the faithful to leave their donations inside the church and has increased security so that the faithful feel safe when visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Both Father Hernandez and local authorities are asking for the community’s help in identifying those responsible for these thefts. Anyone with information about these individuals are asked to contact their local authorities.