Theft, damage and sacristy fire at Capela de Santo Antônio, Cohabinal, Parnamirim

In the early hours of Wednesday, 7 October 2026, intruders broke into the Capela de Santo Antônio in the Cohabinal district of Parnamirim, Greater Natal. Police said four ciboria, two copper chalices and a sound table with microphones were taken, the interior was damaged, religious images were damaged, and a fire started in the sacristy. The priest found the blaze in a cabinet and filed a report. The Polícia Científica examined the scene. Police had found no sign of a religious-intolerance motive but kept that line open; the cause of the fire, the extent of losses and the culprits are still under investigation.

Break-in and theft with damage and a sacristy fire, mapped to incidentType vandalism because the fire's cause is not yet established (police are still investigating it). Coordinates are a neighbourhood pin for Cohabinal, Parnamirim (−5.92493, −35.26696), not a chapel-footprint pin. occurredOn is 7 October 2026. Second source: BNews RN https://www.bnewsrn.com.br/noticias/cidades/invasores-furtam-equipamentos-e-ateiam-fogo-na-sacristia-de-capela-em-parnamirim.html