Police have released this sketch depicting a woman who is wanted as a “person of interest” relative to the theft of a centuries-old relic from St. Anthony Catholic Church Monday, June 13.
UPDATE, Friday, June 17, 10:15am | The Long Beach Police Department announced Thursday that it made an arrest in the grand theft case of a centuries-old relic stolen Monday morning from St. Anthony Catholic Church.
Maria Solis, 41, was taken into custody Thursday, June 16, on suspicion of grand theft and burglary, Sgt. Rico Fernandez said, after the stolen 700- to 800-year-old relic that centuries ago belonged to the church’s namesake saint, St. Anthony of Padua, was found inside her apartment.
The relic was returned unharmed to the church last night.
Police said they found various other religious relics inside the woman’s apartment that may have been stolen from other churches.
Surveillance videos from a security camera belonging to a business located in the vicinity of the church gave police their break in solving the case.
The department released clips from the two videos. They are posted here, or they can be viewed on YouTube’s website by clicking here and here.
Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman Lisa Massacani said the black-and-white clip was taken on Sunday, June 12, while the color clip was taken on Monday, June 13, the day of the theft. In both videos Solis is seen walking toward the church, she said.
Tuesday, June 14, 11:01am | Long Beach police said the above sketch depicts a woman who is wanted as a “person of interest” relative to the theft of a centuries-old relic from a Catholic church in Long Beach.
The 700- to 800-year-old relic was reported stolen at about 9:30 a.m. Monday, police said.
Police would not describe the relic, saying its description is key to their probe. The Los Angeles Archdiocese said the relic was housed in a 16-inch gold and silver reliquary with angels on each side. Both the relic and the reliquary were taken.
The Vatican gave the relic to the church as a gift upon the church’s founding in 1902.
The relic was an object of importance to St. Anthony when he was alive, and the theft occurred on the 780th anniversary of St. Anthony’s death, the Los Angeles Times reported.
St. Anthony happens to be the patron saint of missing or lost items.
Police are looking for a heavyset Latina woman in her 30s with dark, wavy hair, about 5-foot to 5-foot-3-inches tall. She was said to have acted suspiciously the day before the theft was noticed.
Father Joe Magana reportedly said that the woman attended all five of Sunday’s masses, sitting in the front at each service and walking around in between masses. He did not recognize her, the Press-Telegram reported.
The relic had not been on display since 2002, when the church brought it out in celebration of the church’s 100th anniversary, Magana reportedly said. It was in an unlocked cabinet to the left of the altar at the time it was taken, according to the PT.
The relic was reportedly stolen sometime between 6 a.m. Monday and the church’s 9 a.m. Monday mass. The thief may not realize the importance or value of the relic, police said.
Anyone with information relative to the theft is urged to contact Long Beach Police Department Burglary Detective Lorri Peck at 562-570-5590. Anonymous tips can also be left by visiting LongBeach.gov/police.