France sees sharp rise in church thefts targeting sacred art
The Interior Ministry recorded 538 cases in 2025, an 11 percent rise from the previous year.
The thefts often involve small churches that are easy to access and poorly protected. Higher gold prices have also increased the value of some of the objects being stolen.
Three men were convicted on Friday for around 30 thefts from churches in northern and eastern France.
They received prison sentences, some