Police Search for 9/11 Memorial Theft Suspect

New York City police are searching for a suspect who allegedly stole a gold-plated metal rose from a 9/11 memorial at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Midtown Manhattan on November 20, 2024. The rose, a central piece of the memorial, stood among steel remnants from the World Trade Center wreckage and honored 9/11 victims, including Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain who died during the attacks. Surveillance footage captured the suspect exiting the church with the rose, and he remains at large, wanted for grand larceny. The incident occurred at around 2:30 p.m., and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers. This theft has drawn attention due to the memorial's significance and the legacy of Father Judge, who was a noted advocate for LGBTQ rights within the Catholic Church.