Documenting the frequency of incidents of theft and vandalism of religious cultural property proves difficult because of variations in law enforcement record keeping around the world. However, international trafficking of such property appears among the top most common crimes.⁴

The majority of thefts occur from private homes; however, other common targets include museums and places of worship. The type of objects stolen varies from country to country; however, paintings, sculptures, statues, and religious items seem highly sought after by thieves.⁵ Newspaper reports often affirm the problem: “Los Angeles police continued their investigation Monday into the theft of nearly 40 religious artifacts from a Russian Orthodox Church in Hollywood. The list of stolen items included a baptismal kit, chalices, and crosses,” the church said.⁶

On March 18, 2015, in upstate New York, thieves stole an ornate brass-and-bronze tabernacle—valued between $3,300 and $5,000—from a Catholic church.⁷ Approximately 60 percent of the parishioners consisted of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and their families.⁸ Often, robbers convert cultural and religious objects into cash by selling the items on the open market, via websites, or to collectors at antique shows or similar venues.

A Latin American historian and researcher urged Peruvian bishops to implement 2001 Vatican guidelines that cover the protection and exhibition of religious art. Joint campaigns involving the Catholic church in countries, such as the United States, which often are destinations for smuggled artwork, and source countries, like the Andean nations, were called for to raise awareness of the importance of conserving Latin America’s colonial religious art and discouraging people from buying these stolen items. This historian suggested that American and European Catholics help parishes in their homelands raise money to install security systems. With joint efforts, law enforcement could recover some, but probably not all, stolen artifacts. However, by sharing the story little by little, items may return.⁹

Community members, parishioners, and clergy often do not realize items’ worth and value when safeguarding churches that are open and welcoming at all hours. Paintings, altarpieces, and even some textiles contain historic, artistic, and intrinsic value.

For example, a property record bearing signatures of both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison—reportedly maintained in a rural church office somewhere in the United States—has particular value for the signatures alone. As with most churches, this one sometimes remains unoccupied, and breaking and entering by a thief would result in an important loss of local history. Major works of art by renowned artists, such as da Vinci, Michelangelo, or Caravaggio, often serve as targets in Europe; however, even on the Internet, thieves can view appealing images of historic churches and places of worship filled with objects they easily could convert to cash.

Protecting Artifacts

Law enforcement outreach to local religious communities should include efforts to identify and secure artifacts. These endeavors could consist of a few simple, yet critical steps to protect these items.

1. Develop an inventory: This proves crucial to locating and identifying items of historic, cultural, or artistic value. The house-of-worship staff should retain a complete list of these objects.
2. Establish records: Maintaining files of artifacts becomes essential. With digital photography, staff may store and print high-quality color photos of each item. These pictures become extremely valuable when reporting a loss to police or notifying registries of stolen objects. Detailed written records of objects should include the medium, dimensions, material, proof or artist marks, and any other similar details. These serve as important documents for recovering lost items or proving ownership.
3. Mark items: Initially, it may appear impossible to mark all items because of composition or intrinsic value; however, another option to consider involves using ultraviolet or invisible ink or radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags, which attach to the object. Staff could affix a small—less than one-half inch in size—transponder to a frame, parament, or altar hanging of particular value or significance. Using a unique code, an individual could establish ownership. Another option involves local alarms that sound when someone removes an object from a wall mounting. Staff, police officers, or clergy could fasten these to paintings and wall hangings.
4. Insure property: Office staff and clergy should review the casualty insurance coverage to ascertain that the property protection program includes all artifacts. They should list particularly high-value items separately.

Many congregations or parishes of various faiths worship in buildings considered historical sites, of architectural interest, or known to contain treasures brought to the United States from the Old World. Such sites and objects often hold significant cultural value.

Establishing Partnerships

Few police officers receive training on the cultural context of historic and religious property. Once a thief steals an item, the officer’s focus should shift to collecting evidence and establishing facts of the crime. It sometimes proves necessary for clergy to describe to many police investigators the deep significance, meaning, or value an item holds for members of a faith-based community or even the officers’ own neighborhoods.

Establishing relationships between religious leaders, security professionals, and local law enforcement officers should occur before the need arises. An interfaith association, local seminary, or clergy organization may provide a meet-and-greet opportunity for local police and help build understanding with lasting results. If the police department has a chaplain, that individual could open the door to conversation and serve as a liaison.

Officers sometimes lack familiarity with various religious traditions, experiences, and practices communities bring from other countries. Investigators assigned to such theft cases should undergo specialized training and awareness. Information sharing and intelligence help identify potential targets, resources, and threats. Immeasurable value comes from a patrol officer stopping at a church, synagogue, or mosque and becoming acquainted with clergy and office staff.

A quick Internet search finds church security organizations and property insurance carriers that serve as valuable resources. Before seeking and enlisting the services of an online group, clergy should discuss potential programs with local members of their faith-based community. Religious centers should consider appointing a safety-and-security committee or leader and conducting a review, at least annually, of all protection measures.

Conclusion

Safety and security remain practical issues that religious leaders and clergy must not ignore while carrying out the primary mission for their faith-based communities. A simple assessment of physical security measures, such as lighting, locks, and locations of entries and exits, proves worthy of annual review. Some basic steps—inventorying, recording, marking, and insuring objects—help alleviate losses. Establishing partnerships between local law enforcement and religious communities improves protection, enhances relationships, and helps preserve cultural and historic artifacts. Religious heritage remains a part of almost every culture and country, and responsibility continues today for individuals to protect and preserve cultural and religious heritage for tomorrow.