300-year-old Bible stolen in Berlin

updated 4:06 p.m. ET Nov. 27, 2007

BERLIN - A thief broke into the offices of a Berlin church during Sunday services and stole a 300-year-old illuminated Bible, police said.

In addition to the richly illustrated 1704 Bible, the thief, or thieves, also made off with an undisclosed amount of money, police said Tuesday.

Priest Dieter Spanknebel wrote an appeal on the Web site of the Neukoelln neighborhood's Martin Luther church, saying the Bible would be difficult for a thief to sell.

"It would be most prudent simply to somehow bring it back to the church," he said. "We ask you to do so, with all our hearts."

The Bible is estimated to be worth between $3,000 and $7,500, police said.

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