Incident Overview
- Location: Schkölen (Saale-Holzland-Kreis / Region Jena)
- Period: Night from Saturday (14.02.) to Sunday (15.02.2026)
- Offense: Burglary, property damage
- Damage: Approx. 500 Euro property damage, approx. 18 Euro stolen goods
- Special Feature: High fire risk due to abandoned candle
Schkölen/Jena. These are scenes that leave not only the church community but also investigators stunned. In the night leading to Sunday, unknown perpetrators gained access to a church in Schkölen in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis. What initially appeared to be an ordinary burglary nearly ended in a devastating fire.
Vandalism in the House of Worship
According to current findings by the police inspection, the perpetrator or perpetrators forcibly entered the church building. Inside, the unknown individuals acted with brute force: several pictures were torn from the walls, indicating a significant lack of respect for the sacred space.
The primary goal of the burglars, however, appeared to be material, even though the loot was minimal. Only a candle vessel was stolen. The value of the stolen goods is estimated by officers at around 18 euros—a sum that bears no relation to the damage caused and the potential risk.
Dangerous Negligence: Candle on Wooden Table
A detail discovered by the police during the crime scene investigation makes this case particularly explosive. The perpetrators took the candle out of the stolen vessel, placed it directly on a wooden table, and lit it. They then left the crime scene, leaving the open fire unattended.
As reported by the police, the candle burned down completely. It is almost a miracle that no major fire broke out. The fire extinguished itself but left clear traces. Due to the intense heat, both the wooden table and the wall behind it were damaged. Property damage is estimated at approximately 500 euros. In historical buildings such as churches, which often contain a lot of dry wood, such an action could have quickly led to the entire building falling victim to the flames.
Investigations Ongoing
Churches are often places of silence and open doors, which unfortunately makes them repeated targets for vandalism and theft. However, the deliberate lighting of a fire in an unmonitored building represents a new level of endangerment.
The police have initiated an investigation into theft and are also examining the circumstances of the property damage. Officers are now looking for witnesses who observed suspicious persons or vehicles in the area of the church in Schkölen during the night from Saturday to Sunday.
We will keep you updated as soon as new information regarding this case becomes available.
Sources:
Original
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