Crime

Church window damaged by vandalism

Posted

A thrown rock broke a stained glass window at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Valley Stream last Sunday, and police are reviewing surveillance video that reportedly captured the culprit’s car.

Father Peter Dugandzic, head pastor at the church, said the incident happened late at night. It made a round hole through a pane on the far right side of the window, roughly midway between the top and bottom of the window. The window is on a wall of the church just off McKeon Avenue, facing east toward a parking lot, and depicts a crucifixion scene.

Dugandzic said the church is still getting estimates for a repair, so he did not know how much it would cost to fix the window or how long it would take. He said that in the video, a white car can be seen driving west on McKeon Avenue before making a U-turn.

“At first, I thought it could have been some kids playing around in the parking lot,” he said. “Then we looked at the video. The driver drove past the church, came back, got out of his car and threw the rock...He knew what he was doing.”