When she noticed a three-and-a-half pound brass candle top missing last Friday from the church's Easter baptismal candle, that was the last straw.

About two months ago, someone also stole two smaller alter candle tops from the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the smaller worship area adjoining the larger, main church that's only open on and around the Sabbath. All told, that's a $500 loss for the church, Barry said, but whoever stole the candles' shiny circular crowns will be lucky to get a fast-food meal.

"People have come in and said, 'Oh, that's what looks different,' " said Barry, referring to the glass top she has employed as a replacement atop the Easter candle. "Others have said, 'Oh, I told you that you should've put that away after Mass.' "

To cut down on graffiti and vandalism, the church already locks the bathroom doors outside of the smaller sacrament chapel that's open from about 6:30 a.m. to about 10:30 p.m.

During the day, the quaint chapel's doors remain open to those who wish to drop by and pray, but unfortunately, Barry lamented, this also includes filchers.

"Between vandalism and theft, we just have to keep parts of the church locked," Barry said. She added that the church found the heftier, two-and-a-half foot candle stand itself in a vestibule outside the chapel, indicating that the candle-top thief had also tried to take that, but then abandoned the cumbersome effort near the exit.

An employee at South valley Disposal and Recycling, which does not recycle brass, said someone had called asking about recycling that particular metal earlier this week, so the company referred them to another recycler in Morgan Hill.

An employee there said he had not seen any candle tops come through, but he added that San Jose recylcers offer more than $1 per pound for brass due to supply and demand.

Chris Bone Chris Bone covers City Hall for The Dispatch. Reach him at 847-7109 or e-mail him at cbone@gilroydispatch.com.