Burglar robs safe full of donations for the poor at New Jersey church in cruel pre-Christmas heist

A grinch is on the loose in New Jersey.

A heartless burglar broke into a Garden State church three days before Christmas and trashed the place as they stole thousands of dollars in donations, according to reports.

The robber, or robbers, made off with $8,000 in cash from a safe at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church in South Brunswick on Sunday — and are now being hunted by cops, according to CBS.

A burglar robbed St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church in South Brunswick, New Jersey, on Dec. 21. Google

The money has been meant for people in need this holiday, the house of worship said.

“Money can be stolen — but they can never steal away our Christmas Spirit!,” the church said in a statement.

During the burglary, the burglar pulled tiles from the ceiling to access a locked office, leaving a trail of debris as they targeted the safe.

The thief or thieves reportedly made off with $8,000 in cash, according to a report from CBS. x/SoBrunswickPD

“These drawers were all out … Just pried [it] open with a pry tool, and they made entry, and they gathered whatever collections were left in there,” South Brunswick Police Department Lt. Michael Pellino told CBS.

The church released a statement, thanking the community for their support.

Bizarrely, the statement noted that the burglar only took three of the four collections bag in the safe.

The donations were intended for those in need during the holidays, CBS reported.