Security camera images obtained by CNN They show the moment when a former employee of the Nossa Senhora do Carmo church steals religious works. The man is investigated by the São Paulo Civil Police by theft and interception of dozens of sacred items of this and other churches in São Paulo .
In the images, you can see the moment when the then in charge of decorating the altar for the ceremonies enters one of the rooms where the most valuable items of the church are, on January 16 this year. In this room, there are no cameras.
Minutes later, the suspect leaves the room with an object covered by cloths between his arms. According to one of the entity’s representatives, it is a massive silver crucifix that disappeared from the church.
The object is listed as a historical heritage and can be marketed by high values in the clandestine market.
In the images of the external cameras of the church it is possible to see the suspect by placing the object inside the trunk of the vehicle itself.
The disappearance of the crucifix was noticed by the other employees who sought the 1st Police Department last Saturday (22).
Works evaluated in millions of reais
The works can be prior to the 18th century and “very high value” in the illegal market, Mateus Rosa, professor of the architecture course at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).
From the images, the expert architect in Sacred Art also details that part of the pieces resembles the items of church in Latin America, with ornaments of historical basilicas of Cusco, in Peru .
Part of the items have characteristics of Ecuador artistic schools and another part has characteristics of sacred works of the Brazilian colonial period . Paintings that portray Brazil in empire period made up the decoration of the apartment.
The suspect was taken to the police station and, in a statement, said that the Works are inheritance and pieces purchased from antiquaries . Investigations point out that man worked in several historical churches in São Paulo.
This Thursday (28), the Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJSP) authorized the breach of confidentiality of the former employee’s cell phone data. Police preliminary analyzes show messages of messages with possible buyers of the works.
The Civil Police called the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) to accompany the case. The Third Order Church of Carmo informs that the case is being analyzed at the police sphere and will wait for the police result.
Church of the Third Order of Carmo
The Church of the Third Order of Carmo is one of the most traditional churches of São Paulo.
In 1594, the Carmelites, the oldest and original branch of the Order of Carmo, began their foundation in São Paulo.
The historical architecture of the building is composed of elements of the Brazilian colonial tradition that mix with the birth and colonization of the state capital.
Construction houses the artistic production of Mount Carmelo Father Jesuíno in the lining of the ship, the Mor and Choir chapel and is known by the remaining set of paintings of the former Santa Tereza collection chapel.
The Church was officially inaugurated in 1934 and was listed by the government of São Paulo in 2021 .
This content was originally published in stolen sacred works: security cameras show the suspect’s action on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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