24 Jun 2022

Stolen vintage cross returned to church

4:17 pm on 24 June 2022

A vintage cross has been returned to St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church in central Auckland after it was stolen last month.

The altar cross has been returned to St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church in central Auckland.

Police returned the altar cross to St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church in central Auckland. Photo: NZ Police

The large high altar cross was not bolted down when it was stolen on 13 May. CCTV images showed a person walking straight to the altar, taking the cross and walking out with it.

In a video posted on the Police Facebook page today, officers said they were returning the cross to the church.

The cross was located in someone's home and brought to the central Auckland police station.

Police today returned the "heavy" cross to the church, where they were met by Reverend Helen Jacobi.

"We're just so grateful to have the cross back. We've been really missing it for the last month," Jacobi said.

"It's very old and has been part of our worship here for nearly 100 years so we're just so grateful for all those who helped bring it back."