Crime & Safety

Thief Steals $600 from Bayside Church During Annual Bazaar

An attendee at All Saints Episcopal Church's event took an envelope full of money from its book room.

An attendee at All Saints Episcopal Church’s annual holiday bazaar in Bayside last weekend stole more than $600 from the house of worship’s book room.

Rev. Laurence Byrne said that a thief broke into a closet in the second-floor room and took an envelope full of cash as the event was taking place on Saturday.

“It was during our bazaar and the parish house had probably more than 100 people in it,” Byrne said. “What we think probably happened was someone was watching the person collect money [during the event], saw them put it in the closet and decided to take it for themselves. Someone paid attention and took the opportunity.”

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The stolen money would have gone towards a fundraiser luncheon that the church held on Sunday.

“It didn’t affect our ability to do the luncheon, but it reduced our profitability,” Byrne said of the theft.

However, Byrne said most attendees at the event were generous, including the winner of the bazaar’s raffle, who told the church to keep the $500 prize.

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All Saints Episcopal Church is located at 214-35 40th Ave. in Bayside.


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