Statue outside of Williamsburg church targeted by group of vandals

WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn (WABC) -- For the third time since 2012, a statue of Jesus outside a church in Brooklyn has been targeted by vandals.

The "Sacred Heart of Jesus" statue outside of Saints Peter and Paul Rectory in Williamsburg was damaged early Sunday morning after three suspects approached the statue.

Surveillance video shows one of the suspects touch the statues hand and then pull it forward as if to kiss it.

The suspects then quickly ran away.

Back in 2012, a "Sacred Heart of Jesus" statue outside of the rectory was stolen.

It was never found and eventually replaced by another statue that was donated.

Then in May 2016, the donated statue was stolen, recovered a short time later, and relocated indoors.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477, submit tips online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or text any tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and then enter TIP577.