Thief steals thousands of dollars worth of irreplaceable items from Northridge church

(FOX 11) - Thousands of dollars worth of irreplaceable religious items disappeared from a Northridge church in seconds.

"While they can be replaced monetarily, the sentiment will be very very hard to replace," says Father Michael Prevas.

Wednesday morning around 5:30, Father Michael Prevas says surveillance video captured a man parking a white truck behind the St. NIcholas Orthodox Church's parking lot.

LAPD detectives say he then pried open this back door, walking into a back room, forcing open a locked cabinet and rummaging through other drawers.

LAPD says about 10 crosses and other items worth thousands of dollars were taken.
The man left before police could get there.

"The individual had been in and out in about just slightly what seems like over one minute," said Father Prevas.

"It makes us a little more uneasy that it seemed to be such a targeted event," said Prevas.
Now the priest hoping whoever stole the items....brings them back.

"They're very saddened that it's come to the point that churches can be targeted in places of worship," said Father Prevas.