UPDATED: Statues Vandalized at St. Margaret's, Police Investigating

BURLINGTON, MA - Burlington Police are investigating a disturbing case of vandalism involving three religious statues at a local Catholic church.

Detective Sergeant Timothy McDonough told Burlington Patch the three statues were damaged sometime between Monday and Tuesday.

Burlington Police responded Tuesday morning to St. Margaret Parish, for a report of vandalism. St. Margaret's is located at 111 Winn St. in Burlington. When they arrived, Detective Thomas Carlson and Detective Albert Gagne noted three religious statues had been vandalized, according to Police Chief Michael Kent.

Two statues, which sit at the top of a hill on the property, had their hands severed and multiple sets of rosary beads removed and scattered on the ground. The third statue, located near the rectory and depicting the Virgin Mary, had its head severed and both hands removed.

Officials believe the damage was done between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Burlington Police told reporters Tuesday night they are not investigating this incident as a hate crime and doesn't appear to be connected to other incidents including a vandalism attack on The The Islamic Center of Burlington last fall and the vandalism of a statue of St. Mary at St. Catherine's in Norwood on Friday.

Detectives are now engaged in an active and ongoing investigation.

“This is a deeply disturbing crime committed against a religious institution in our community during a major holiday season,” Chief Kent said in a statement issued Tuesday. “We will undertake a thorough investigation and use all assets at our disposal to find those responsible and hold them accountable.”

If anyone has any information on the vandalism or saw anything suspicious at the church, they are urged to contact the Burlington Police Department at 781-272-1212.

Photos Courtesy of the Burlington Police Department