Two Cincinnati churches hit by vandalism, break-ins over last week

NORTHSIDE, Ohio (WKRC) – St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church has been on Chase Avenue for nearly 160 years and its doors have been there more than a century.

But they are freshly sanded because they were defaced last week, and it is going to take a while before they get back to normal.

Vandals painted graffiti over two sets of the front doors last Friday, according to parish staff.

Workers removed the paint from both the wood and the stone outside. But the doors will not be back to normal until at least April. That is because the paint and stain will not cure properly in the cold and wet of winter or early spring.

This will also be the first weekend parishioners will see the sanded doors as a reminder of the vandalism.

Cincinnati Police Department officers took the church's surveillance camera footage, but it did not show when the destruction took place nor any suspects, and there have been no arrests in the case.

Just Thursday night, someone broke into Southern Baptist Church on Reading Road in Avondale.

Staff there says thieves broke at least two doors and stole something from the children’s nursery.

The biggest discovery: the church's refrigerator full of food was emptied and other kitchen items had also been stolen.

Police also have no suspects in that case. The staff says surveillance video shows the break-in but not the face of the suspect.

CPD officials told Local 12 Friday that the two incidents are more than likely unrelated because they were such different crimes.

But they are still going to be keeping an eye out for any future potential incidents involving churches.

St. Boniface is asking for donations to help restore its front doors. And police are asking for anyone with information about either case to be called into Crimestoppers at 513-352-3040. All tips are considered anonymous.