‘Thief’ fleeced me in church, says granny

Andrew Mathieson
AN 84-year-old pensioner has alleged theft of two rings and a bracelet from her handbag at Geelong’s biggest church.
Mary Cameron said she was so upset she might never return to St Mary of the Angels Catholic Parish in Yarra Street.
“I will give it a spell for a while and I will just see if I’ll go back or not.”
Ms Cameron said her jewellery disappeared during Holy Communion at Sunday’s mass.
The Highton grandmother said she had left her bag unattended on a seat, trusting other parishioners.
“I never dreamt anything like that could happen and I got a surprise when they were missing,” she said.
“They were definitely gone and I was robbed at the church.”
The serving priest at the morning mass later told her “it happens all the time”, Ms Cameron said.
“I asked the priest whether the church could take up a collection because (the jewellery) was really expensive,” she said.
Ms Cameron alleged the church theft followed burglary of her unit six months ago.
She said burglars broke five windows, slashed her lounge and damaged a stove.
The church confirmed a report of stolen jewellery.
Father Kevin Dillon, who has spoken to Ms Cameron about the incident, said the loss of valuables was “not the church’s responsibility”.
“It’s no different from if it was stolen from Bay City plaza or wherever,” he said.
Fr Dillon said parishioners typically considered the church “free of crime”.
But he recommended they left valuables elsewhere when attending mass.
“There are some people who come to church not to worship or pray but to prey in a different sense and it can happen,” Fr Dillon.
“But we’ve had very little evidence of it at St Mary’s in my time.”