Hate Crimes Unit investigates theft and shrine damage at St. Jude R.C. Church, Mastic Beach

Suffolk County police said property was stolen from St. Jude R.C. Church on Overlook Drive in Mastic Beach, New York, in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 October 2026, and the department's Hate Crimes Unit is investigating. Police dispatch audio that morning described a stolen or damaged electric candle holder and a shrine worth about $5,000, with damaged property at the church.

Church theft and damage under hate-crime investigation, mapped to incidentType vandalism. Item details come from a CrimeRadar dispatch transcript (https://www.uscrimeradar.com/mastic-beach-ny/47156_1791900313_algltdgr-costly-church-candle-holder-and-shrine-damaged-or-taken), which is auto-generated and unofficial. Coordinates are the Nominatim pin for Overlook Drive, Mastic Beach (the church did not resolve), labeled approximate.