A nun in Italy has been arrested for allegedly stealing valuable items from multiple churches in the Avellino province.
Missing Items Sparked Investiagtion
The nun, who served as a superior, reportedly took jewelry, sacred objects, and even a relic of Saint Nicholas, with a total value exceeding €80,000 (about $85,000), according to reports from rainews.it.
After committing the thefts, the nun quickly sold the stolen items to various dealers and transferred the funds abroad, according to Ziare.
Following the discovery of the missing items, Monsignor Sergio Melillo, the bishop of Ariano Irpino, lodged a formal complaint regarding the disappearance of gold votive objects from several diocesan churches.
Investigations unfolded across towns including Castel Baronia, Bonito, Savignano Irpino, Carife, and Ariano.
Admitted Her Actions
Law enforcement officials conducted searches of areas exclusively used by the nun, who possessed keys to the room where the valuable items were stored.
During the investigation, multiple individuals were interviewed.
Some of the stolen goods were found to have been melted down, while other jewelry pieces and bracelets were discovered in the nun's quarters in the province of Rome, where she had been transferred during the inquiry.
Upon revealing the extent of her actions and the potential risks of fleeing or tampering with evidence, a judge in Tivoli issued an arrest warrant for the nun.
When the arrest was validated, she admitted to her wrongdoing.
Monsignor Melillo expressed his profound sadness over the events, indicating that he was the one who initially reported the thefts from three churches in Ariano Irpino, as well as places of worship in Castel Baronia, San Sossio Baronia, Bonito, Savignano Irpino, and Carife.
