Suspect caught in collection plate theft, money missing

DREXEL HILL, Pa. - March 3, 2010

The money, however, is still missing.

22-year-old James Joy of Upper Darby was arrested Wednesday morning and charged.

The theft happened at Saint Andrew Catholic Church during the 9:30 Mass.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said a man wearing a ski mask and sunglasses approached a teenage usher as he was carrying the offering to the rectory and demanded the money. The usher handed the money over and the suspect took off.

Police found the ski mask and glasses in the trash at a nearby trolley stop.

Chitwood says the money in the offering had not yet been counted so it's unclear how much was lost.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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