Arrest made in trio of NJ church thefts

HAMILTON TWP., N.J. - March 10, 2011

Gustavo Garcia, 50, was arrested on Wednesday for the thefts at St. Raphael, St. Vincent DePaul, and Holy Angels churches in Hamilton Township.

Police say a witness who recalled a partial license plate and vehicle description eventually led them to Garcia.

The trio of church robberies started on February 2nd at St. Raphael's when a man in a dark jacket and glasses, seen on surveillance video, entered the church.

Instead of making an offering and lighting a candle, he cleared out the collection box, getting away with $200.

On February 20th, police say Garcia went behind the altar at Holy Angels Church and stole $150 from the collection plate. That same day, St. Vincent DePaul's Church was hit when a collection box with up to $1,200 was lifted right in the middle of mass.

Garcia was being held on $72,000 bail. He is charged with three counts of theft and one count of burglary.

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