During Funeral Thief Steals Priest's Car

A Leominster, NH priest is getting his wheels back, two days after a heartless thief drove off with his station wagon during a funeral Mass.

“My message to him is not to prey on people and steal,” said Monsignor John E. Doran, 69, of St. Leo’s Parish. “I hope he learns from the experience. This isn’t the way to go.”

Authorities in Hampton, N.H., recovered the stolen 2006 Subaru station wagon early yesterday at the Flagship Motor Inn, said police Lt. Daniel Gidley.

Doran said he saw a man with a large backpack enter the church Saturday, say a few prayers and then leave during the funeral. A few minutes later, Doran said he saw the man enter the sacristy, where the priest left his car keys.

He said he couldn’t see inside the sacristy from where he was sitting, but had a bad feeling. He had never seen the man before.

“There wasn’t anything I could do,” Doran said. “The funeral was going on.”

Doran said he saw the man exit the sacristry while a eulogy was being delivered. After the Mass, he discovered his car keys and his car missing.

Authorities called him at 2:30 a.m. yesterday to inform him that the car had been recovered.

SOURCE