Thieves have hit a historic Santa Fe church twice, and its pastor says the shrine is in dire need of a security upgrade. KRQE-TV reports that the Santuario de Guadalupe was robbed last week after a thief pried open a little wooden box that holds donations from the faithful and swiped the money inside. Someone also busted through rod iron bars in the back of the church, broke a window and stole two wooden crosses.
Reverend Tien-Tri Nguyen, Pastor of the Shrine, says church officials keep changing boxes and locks but it keeps getting robbed. The shrine was built in 1795 and is the oldest church in the nation honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The historic church has been targeted four times in the last six months.