Donation money stolen from St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is urging parishioners to be vigilant after discovering cash stolen from votive boxes in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.

Police suspect two men hid inside the church after doors were closed and locked Saturday night, according to the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety.

When the coast was clear, they made off with the cash, damaging the votive boxes in the process, police said.

The amount stolen was not disclosed.

In a Facebook post Sunday, diocese officials described the theft as a “reminder that everyone in our parishes needs to be vigilant in watching for suspicious behavior and to respond immediately by calling 911.”

Church officials said it wasn’t immediately clear when the theft happened, because nobody reported damage to the votive boxes for some time. Parishioners should report signs of damage immediately, they said on Facebook.

The cathedral also announced a new restroom policy. The restrooms will now be locked except during Mass.

This change was made on the recommendation of the cathedral’s security committee, which includes members of law enforcement, according to church officials.

“This may be an inconvenience to some who have been using the rest rooms in off hours, but the risks are too great, and we need to be more diligent in securing our facilities,” the cathedral posted on Facebook.