The King County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that a thief (or thieves) broke the 7th Commandment not once – but twice – when someone stole two tabernacles from Burien’s St. Bernadette Catholic Parish recently.

Police say that the first theft occurred sometime between Thursday, Sept. 1, and Friday, Sept. 2. That sacred tabernacle was originally purchased when the church was built in 1960.



The second tabernacle was stolen sometime between 7 p.m. Saturday night (Sept. 3) and 8 a.m. Sunday morning (Sept. 4). This item was purchased in memory of a long-time parish family when the church made interior changes in 2003-2004.



Both tabernacles are worth between $10,000 – $15,000 each, the church said.

“In the Catholic Church, tabernacles are very sacred items in which the Body of Christ is stored,” Parish Administrator Diana Mastandrea told The B-Town Blog. “Consecrated hosts were in the second tabernacle when it was stolen.”

It is unknown how the suspect got into the church, and there was no sign of forced entry in either case.

If anyone has an information about this theft, please contact the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.

St. Bernadette Parish is located at 1028 SW 128th Street (map below) in Burien:



(Tip o’the hat to Ed Dacy for this news tip!)]]>