The tight-knit community of St. Michael the Archangel Church on Southwest Mill Street experienced a wave of relief this weekend when a stolen tabernacle was returned, yet the congregation's ordeal continues as they seek another missing sacred item. The church, having fallen victim to a burglary between the evening of May 28 and the morning of May 29, 2024, lost several items, including a golden tabernacle made of wood which holds significant value to its members.
Efforts to recover the stolen property escalated with the church distributing flyers, offering a reward for the tabernacle's return. On June 15, a woman came forward with the tabernacle in her possession, stating her intention to return it to the church. According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), officers from the Specialized Resources Division, and Central Precinct coordinated the return and ensured the woman received the promised reward. The woman, whom authorities have stated is not a suspect in the burglary, is aiding the ongoing investigation.
The burglary at St. Michael's remains under scrutiny, with PPB detectives positing that the incidents are interconnected, likely perpetuated by the same individual. Currently, no arrests have been made in connection to the thefts at St. Michael the Archangel Church, and PPB continues their search for the second missing item, which details have not been made public.
