A brazen gang broke into St Joseph Chuka Catholic Church on Sunday night and stole the offertory.

The gang stormed into the compound at around midnight and nuns at the convent suspect they were assisted by an insider.

Sister Jacinta Gakii, a nun, said she heard a big bang after the thieves broke a door into the convent at around 12am and screamed for help.

A second nun who was responding to the distress call was seized by the gang and ordered to take them to the priest’s house.

“My colleague came out to rescue me, but was held by the robbers who directed her to take them to the priest’s house where they took the money,” said Sister Gakii.

She added that they suspect somebody well conversant with the convent could have guided the thieves because the compound is well protected.

“They came from the back door which is very hard for a stranger to know,” she said.

Father Cyprian Mbaka said although the money had not been counted, the church usually collects about Sh16,000 as offertory every Sunday.

Tharaka-Nithi acting County Police Commander Beatrice Karaguri said no one was injured during the incident.

She noted that the incident must have been well planned because a window of priest’s house was marked.

“These people knew exactly where the offertory is kept because when the nun took them to the priest room they went straight to the marked window, broke it and took the money,” said Ms Kiraguri.

She said they had launched investigation into the incident.

Residents have condemned the theft and called on the police to bring an end to the rising crimes in the town.

“If they are breaking into a church and taking away offering, it means that our businesses are not safe,” said Mr James Mutegi a businessman in Chuka town.