20-year-old accused of robbing seven churches over three weeks, Florida cops say
A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection to multiple church burglaries in Florida, according to a news release.
In the last three weeks, seven churches — all within the same neighborhood — were robbed, the Pensacola Police Department said in an Oct. 15 news release.
The latest raid happened around 3:45 p.m. Oct. 10 at New Hope Missionary Baptist church, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office told WKRG.
Deputies said they believe the intruder used a chunk of asphalt to break in through three of the church’s windows.
According to WEAR, the break-in caused $2,500 in damage to the church building and the suspect took about $1,200 worth of items, including a desktop computer.
Pensacola police said they stopped a 20-year-old man who matched the description of the suspected intruder on Oct. 14 in the same area where the burglaries occurred.
According to officers, the man had “burglary tools, marijuana, and a stolen firearm” in his possession at the time he was stopped.
He is charged in connection with one of the church burglaries so far as well as with possession of marijuana, providing a false name to law enforcement, possession of a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated felon delinquent and possession of burglary tools, records show.
Police said the other church break-ins are still being investigated.
This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 4:19 PM with the headline "20-year-old accused of robbing seven churches over three weeks, Florida cops say."
