A series of thefts and vandalism has prompted Don Giacomo Sgroi, archpriest of churches in Carini, to take a drastic measure: to close places of worship when no celebrations are scheduled. “The situation has become untenable,” explains Fr. Sgroi, “In order to protect our churches, I am forced to keep them closed for most of the day and guard them at night with a private service”. The most serious incident occurred recently in the Church of the Agonizing, where musical instruments were stolen. “Without music, celebrations lose an important part of their dimension,” the cleric stressed, pointing out the impact on community life. A few weeks earlier, thieves had targeted the premises of the scout group, granted on loan by the mother church, taking only a few pennies from the piggy banks, after rummaging through cupboards and drawers.