Texas thief steals bishop's crown

Metropolitan Isaiah has been a clergyman for more than 50 years

A thief has broken into a car in Texas and stolen a valuable crown and other items belonging to a visiting Greek Orthodox bishop from Colorado.

Metropolitan Isaiah, an ex-US marine who served in the Korean War, was dining with others at a restaurant when the thief smashed his car's window.

The gold and silver crown is believed to be worth up to $10,000 (£5,000).

Also stolen was his Bible and a bag embroidered with his religious title, a gift from the widow of a fellow marine.

Metropolitan Isaiah, who was the only priest at a Vespers service on Saturday night without a head covering, is offering a reward of at least $1,000 for the safe return of the crown stolen in Arlington.

"We parked in a brightly lit place, and with all the lights there, we thought we were fine," he was quoted by the Dallas News as saying.

The crown is used in church services

"We came out at 10 o'clock, and the window was smashed."

The symbolic crown, he said, was the first gift he had received as a bishop, 22 years earlier, and he felt "lost without it".

Other items missing include the bishop's mobile phone and his clerical veil but the loss of the bag seemed to be a particularly hard blow.

"It has my name on it, embroidered Metropolitan Isaiah, so who can use it?" Metropolitan Isaiah asked.

According to his official biography, the ex-marine, whose official title is Metropolitan of Denver, entered a Massachusetts seminary in 1954 and became a bishop in 1986.

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Your comments

I feel bad for him. At least it didn't happen here in Detroit - otherwise they would have taken the car too.
jp, Detroit, Michigan USA

In 1969 my car broke down in the winter. when I returned to recover it, I found the drivers window broken. Stolen from inside were very cheap add-on headrests and a battery-only powered early audio cassette player. I feel sorry for the theives though because the cassette player ate batteries like a fish uses water. And I think I had the only two cassettes in existence that would work in it. Sure missed my window though.
Steven Bouressa, Saint Michael Minnesota USA

I live in a country where one can leave one's motorcycle helmet, gloves and handlebar mitts on the bike when going to shop or for a meal. Whereas in my previous country the very thought of doing such a thing would have been ludicrous. Obviously cities vary, and the poor man obviously acted in accordance with what he knew to be a safe manner to act. That he was wrong with regard to the place reflects badly on the place rather than on his misjudgement---after all misjudgements are only noticeable when they err on the wrong side. I would hope that people research the places they visit before they do so, but a) that is unlikely to be possible, and b) the relevant and detailed information may not be easily accessible, and c) they could still be unlucky.
Gernot Hassenpflug, Tokyo, Japan

I've had my car broken into multiple times, and the most precious thing taken wasn't my laptop, wasn't anything else taken like money, stereo, snow boots, and it wasn't even the sense of violation- it was the tennis racquet that used to belong to my father, who passed away not too long before the racquet (among other things) was stolen. It isn't objects that are precious, it's what they're representative of.
Chris, NY NY

I definitely know how he feels. I had just flown back into Vancouver and stopped for a bite to eat, leaving my items in the trunk thinking they were safe. I was wrong. I lost over $15,000 worth of equipment and personal belongings including my luggage. But the very worst thing of all is that I had my father's wedding footage in my luggage. That was the only thing that could never be replaced. Hopefully he has better luck than me as I put numerous signs offering a reward for the return of the tapes. Needless to say, I now never ever leave anything in the car, regardless of where I am.
David, Vancouver, Canada

Well, that is one symptom of the fact that Dallas is one of, if not the, crime capital of the US. I leave my truck unlocked, with nothing inside. That way, if someone wants to steal something, at least I don't have a smashed window to repair. Sad truth is that in some places in Dallas, it is not safe. We want to spend money on sports arenas and toll roads instead of hiring police and firefighters, and we don't pay the ones we have what they are worth. There is a group of people here trying to fight this trend, but with limited success.
Rod, Dallas, US

My roommate had her car broken into last fall. Her iPod was taken, but the thief wasn't very thorough because her wallet remained. (You're probably asking, "Who leaves their wallet in their car in DETROIT?" She was in a club and didn't want to carry it.) The funny thing is, when she was taking pictures of the damage on her window to show her insurance people, someone called the cops on her, thinking she looked as though she were about to steal the car. She came out of it with the belief that thieves can be stupid, strangers can be vigilant, and at least the cops are trying. I wish I could be so optimistic.
Julie, Detroit, USA

I have lived in Dallas my whole life, and to think that someone would leave such valuables in their car is ridiculous. I feel his pain in losing personal artefacts, but he should have known better.
Matthew, Dallas, USA

I think Matthew from Dallas is representative of the apathy for other people's pain in the state of Texas.
Caleb Mealey, Portland , USA

I didn't know better when I had my family bible and other keepsakes stolen from my car when I had a quick dinner in Dallas on a trip back from St. Louis. Has Dallas really become so tolerant of such crime that it's accepted in certain parts at certain times? They should issue such flyers to that effect at the exits! That thief knew it was not his car, knew it was not his stuff, knew he had no right to take it, but did it all the same. Seems to me that car thieves need the same as horse compassion. Since WHEN was "you shouldn't have trusted us, sucker" a real excuse, and how long ago should it have been locked away with the thieves? No--forget the bishop; crush the sinner.
Steven, Dallas, USA, Dallas, Texas, USA

what can i say... i live in cyprus and crime is relatively low, however i keep my bag or anything that matters if i have to go out, hidden under the seat or where is not visible. leaving shiny jewels in a well lit place at night, not wise at all... mere provocation.
c, nicosia, cyprus

First of all, my fervent prayer is that Metropolan Isaiah's clerical garb and belongings are promptly returned. Sadly, I live in a city where auto break-ins are far too common; I've lost count as to the number of times my cars have been broken into. I've had stolen not one, but two pair of roller blades, which is absolutely nothing compared to what the good Bishop has suffered. I'm quite certain he would have already have forgiven "his" thieves, whereas I'll not forgive mine !
George, San Francisco California US

The sad truth from this story is nothing is sacred. As one reporter said here "where is a thief going to sell that?!" The sad thing is the thief may melt it down or destroy it in some other way. Seeing this on the BBC site makes me wonder how America must be perceived around the world. Makes me very sad/upset.
Kathryn, Fort Worth, USA