Angel statue stolen from religious shrine

If you spot an 8-foot-tall bronze statue of the Angel of Roses in your neighbor's back yard, call the state police.

The statue, which weighs 1,500 pounds, flew off from its stand at the Padre Pio Center in rural Washington Township in Berks County, according to police.

Police do not believe the theft is the work of pranksters, according to The Mercury.

Pranksters? No," Cpl. Douglas Bendetti of the state police at Reading told the newspaper. "It had to be two or more people. This was too heavy to be carried around."

The statue was purchased by the Padre Pio Center about 10 years ago for $26,000. It is now valued at between $50,000 and $60,000, according to police.

There is concern that the thieves will cut up the statue and attempt to sell it to scrap dealers, but police said they will be on the lookout for this.

Anyone who sees the statue or has any information on its whereabouts should call the state police at Reading at 610-378-4011.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Mercury.

Also visit The National Centre for Padre Pio Web site to learn more.