Overview
- Police opened a gendarmerie investigation after bronze Virgin Mary figures were pried from graves in Mayenne and Brittany.
- The case is assigned to the Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne brigade, which is focusing on organized metal theft because bronze can be resold.
- Officials reported about 30 stolen statuettes in south Mayenne and 33 in Ille-et-Vilaine, based on counts shared by local prosecutors.
- Affected cemeteries include Ballots, Fontaine-Couverte, La Roë, Congrier, and La Guerche-de-Bretagne, with similar alerts in nearby communes.
- Mayors filed complaints and stepped up cemetery checks, and families are urged to report losses as each bronze piece is valued at €300 to €1,000.