Church robbery sparks hate‑crime investigation

Police in Queens are looking for a man who stole money and defaced holy water at St. Anastasia Catholic Church over the weekend. The incident happened around 11:45 a. m. on Saturday. The suspect entered the church, poured liquid into the baptismal font, and took an unknown amount of cash from the donation box. He also removed a cloth that was placed on the altar. After committing these acts, he ran away and has not been seen again. No one was hurt during the break‑in.

Witnesses described him as wearing a blue hat, a light sweatshirt, a black jacket, dark pants, sneakers and carrying a bookbag. The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is treating the case as a potential hate crime and is asking anyone with information to come forward. The church community is shaken by the disrespect shown to their sacred space and to the financial contributions of its members. Authorities are urging residents in the area to share any details that might help identify the suspect.

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