A stolen sculpture by Leonora Carrington is among the items taken from the Church of San Cosme in the Cuauhtémoc district. Father José de Jesús Aguilar reported that early Tuesday morning, three bronze sculptures and several commemorative plaques were stolen from the church’s atrium, with an estimated value of over 150,000 pesos.
According to the parish priest, the theft occurred between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., while he was resting. Upon returning to the parish, he discovered that the works were no longer in their place.
Which items were stolen from the Church of San Cosme?
Among the stolen pieces is a sculpture by Leonora Carrington. So far, the authorities and the parish have not released the name or specific description of the work, so it has not been confirmed exactly which piece was stolen.
In addition, the perpetrators took a sculpture inspired by the work of Remedios Varo, a sculpture of two angels, and several bronze plaques located in the church’s atrium.
Security cameras captured a hooded man using tools to pry the sculptures loose, while other people waited for him on the other side of the fence to help carry the pieces away.
As José de Jesús Aguilar explained, the sculptures were too heavy to be carried by a single person, so he believes the perpetrators used a vehicle to flee.
They are asking for help to recover the sculptures
After reporting the theft, the priest asked the public not to purchase the items if anyone attempts to sell them and requested that any information regarding their whereabouts be reported to the parish or the authorities.
He also lamented that the church’s atrium is located in an area with little surveillance and lighting, a situation that likely facilitated the theft without neighbors or passersby noticing what had happened.
The investigation into the theft of the Leonora Carrington sculpture and the other bronze pieces has already led to the first arrest. The Secretariat of Public Safety (SSC) reported the arrest of a 26-year-old man, identified through analysis of video surveillance footage and investigative work.
The suspect was located in the San Rafael neighborhood, and during a routine search, police found several doses of what appeared to be marijuana on him. He was turned over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, while authorities continue their investigation to recover the sculptures and identify others who may be involved.
