Bell Thieves Hit Two Queens Churches
BY LIZ GOFF

Saint Mary's of Winfield, Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church, 70- 31 48th Ave, Woodside, was hit by bell thieves last week. Photos Vinny DuPre

Parishioners at two Queens churches are praying that the brazen thugs who stole their church bells will have a change of heart and return the treasured antiques.

The thieves first struck at St. John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church on 70th Street and 45th Avenue in Woodside sometime during the overnight hours of March 29 and 30, swiping a pair of 250- pound bronze bells that were secured in a ground-level tower, police said.

Police believe the same thieves then headed to the nearby Saint Mary's of Winfield, better known as Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church, where they stole a 650-pound bronze bell described by church officials as a part of the church's heritage.

The Rev. Brendan Duggan said parishioners at Blessed Virgin Mary are "heartsick" over the loss of the bell, which was crafted for the church in 1888.

Police said they fear the thieves may have taken the bells directly to a scrap metal yard, where they could have been paid roughly $1.90 a pound for them- making the 650-pound bell worth at least $1,250.

Two bronze bells were stolen from St. John Chrysostom Greek Orthodox Church, 70-29 45th Ave., Woodside, during the last weekend in March.

Parishioners at Blessed Virgin Mary said the bell was being stored in an outdoor garage on church property until they were able to install it as the centerpiece of a garden they are building on the site of a former church convent.

"Who would do such a thing?" Duggan said. "And how did they accomplish it?"

Neighbors said this wasn't the first time the bell was stolen.

A few years ago, two men pulled up alongside the Blessed Virgin Mary bell and hoisted it into a truck, a neighbor who gave her name as Kellie said.

"The men said they were taking the bell to polish it or something," Kellie said. "But someone got their license plate number and gave it to the police."

Detectives at the 108th Precinct Squad traced the plate to a nearby scrap metal yard, and the bell was returned to the church within hours, police sources said.

Parishioners at St. John's Chrysostom Church said they saw the two 250-pound bells in the parish bell tower at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. The bells were gone when parishioners arrived for Sunday services on the following morning.

The two bells were imported from Greece and donated in memory of two of the church's original parishioners, officials said.

Parishioners at the Greek Orthodox Church said they are very saddened by the theft of the bells, which have always been part of the midnight Easter Liturgy, celebrated this year on April 27.

Officials at both churches said they hope the thieves will realize the sentimental value of the bells and will reach out to return them.

Police are urging anyone with information on the suspects - or the fate of the bells - to call the Crimestoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. All calls will be kept strictly confidential.