Female church burglary suspect identified
Philadelphia police have identified a woman who is believed to have stolen about $1,700 from St. Martha Parish in Northeast Philadelphia.
Philadelphia police have identified a woman who is believed to have stolen about $1,700 from St. Martha Parish in Northeast Philadelphia.
Police on Tuesday said the burglary suspect, who was captured on video entering the church shortly before 8 p.m. Feb. 2, is Sarah Higgins, 29, whose last known address was on the 200 block of Lafayette Street in Bristol, Bucks County.
The Rev. Al Masluk, pastor of the church, at 11301 Academy Road, has said that about $1,700 was stolen from a basement auditorium, where a book fair had been held at the church earlier during the school day.
Police said an arrest warrant was issued on Feb. 12 for Higgins, who is about 5-foot-1, 125 pounds, with dark-brown shoulder length hair. Higgins is known to frequent the areas of Bristol, Northeast Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr, police said.
Anyone who has knowledge about her whereabouts is asked to call the Northeast Detective Division at 215-686-3153.
Separately, police last Thursday arrested a 28-year-old man with thefts at another Northeast Philadelphia church.
William C. Sides is accused of breaking into poor boxes and candle boxes at Our Lady of Calvary Church, at 11024 Knights Road, and stealing about $110 during two thefts in January.
Sides, who is still in custody in a city jail after failing to post bail, faces a March 15 preliminary hearing on charges that include burglary, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief.
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