A Nova Scotia community got together to locate the historic church bell stolen from Holy Rosary Church in Ballantyne’s Cove, N.S.

The Antigonish County District RCMP received a report about a theft at a church on Highway 337 on April 1. When officers arrived, they found out that a large bell had been stolen the night before. Thanks to tips from hundreds of locals, the police discovered the missing bell in Pictou County a few days later.

Community member Kate MacEachern took it upon herself to track down the bell. She would not let thieves take away a historic moment from her community. MacEachern took to social media and reached out to the community for information about the missing church bell. The post received hundreds of tips, eventually helping locate the bell down a steep embankment in Thorburn.

The church bell is back in the community where it belongs. The Nova Scotia RCMP says community support and engagement played a key role in recovering the bell. The investigation is ongoing, and officers continue to follow up on leads to catch those responsible.

Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police