St. Louis, MO, September 15, 2026 — A significant piece of religious art, a copper statue of St. Francis of Assisi, has been stolen from St. Paul Episcopal Church in Alton, Illinois. The theft occurred over the weekend, according to church officials. The statue had been a familiar presence at the church for more than 60 years, making its disappearance a notable loss for the congregation and the community.

This incident marks the most recent event in a pattern of copper-related thefts that have affected St. Paul Episcopal Church. The church has reportedly been targeted previously in a series of thefts involving copper materials. The full extent of the losses from these prior incidents was not detailed in the available information.

The specific details regarding the timing of the theft beyond “over the weekend” were not immediately available. Authorities have not released information concerning potential suspects or any ongoing investigations into the stolen statue. The statue’s material, copper, is often targeted for its scrap value, which has fueled similar thefts across various locations in recent years.

The value of the stolen St. Francis statue was not provided, nor was information regarding the specific timeline of the previous copper thefts at the church. The contractor responsible for the statue’s installation or any recent repair work was also not identified.

St. Paul Episcopal Church has served the Alton community for an extended period, and the statue of its patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi, held significant historical and sentimental value for its parishioners. The ongoing series of thefts raises concerns about security at the church premises and the broader issue of metal component theft in the region.


Story summarized from the original created by Raya Torres on www.firstalert4.com, see more information here.

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