While a church volunteer led a prayer circle outside of the rectory at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Harlem, a thief made off with his backpack which contained an ornate church relic.
Congregation member Teddy Thongratnachat told the New York Post that he only left his backpack unattended for 10 minutes before someone snatched it.
Thongratnachat took to social media to plead for the return of the holy relic saying, "This afternoon, while I was praying before the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, set up outside the Rectory of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church at 448 East 116th Street, my bag was taken. Please pray for the person that took my bag and hope they return it, or at least the valuable contents within which includes a Reliquary containing a stone from Mt. Gargano in Italy where St. Michael the Archangel appeared."
If you have any information on the stolen artifact the NYPD asks you to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
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