Theft from the pews

A CRANBOURNE woman was reduced to tears when a heartless thief stole her handbag as she lined up for communion during Sunday Mass.
The 37-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, had her bag stolen from her seat at St Agatha’s Catholic Church in Cranbourne during the 6pm service on 17 January.
The mother of two was shocked when she returned to her seat after receiving communion and found her bag was gone.
She said it was upsetting someone could steal from the most unlikely of places, and said she was adamant none of the parishioners at St Agatha’s was responsible for the theft.
“I started crying and people were asking what happened. I thought, I can’t believe that,” she said.
The woman had to take her four-month-old son into hospital the next day and said the theft heightened her anxiety.
“I felt like dying.”
After the service parishioners helped the woman search the nearby area and recovered her handbag, but her wallet was gone and it included more than $100 cash and credit cards.
Her sister’s car keys that were in the bag as well were also found.
The woman thanked the parishioners for their help during the incident.
She said one of the parishioners saw two boys enter the church during the service.
“You can’t believe anyone would do that. The church people are all very nice. I do think someone has come in from outside.
“They are all so nice and I just want to thank those people. They helped me a lot.”
Anyone with information should contact Cranbourne Police Station on 5991 0600.