Police: Offering Theft At Wayne Church Shows 'Desperate Times'

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — Reports of thefts from a Wayne church led Radnor Township Police to surveillance video of a man they say has pried open offering bins and stolen from them.

Lorenzo Muniz, 35, of Collegeville, is charged with Institutional Vandalism: Place of Worship, Theft by Unlawful Taking, Criminal Mischief, Possession of an Instrument of Crime and Drug Violations, according to police reports.

Beginning in late January, Radnor Township police began receiving theft reports from a Wayne church. Police said a suspect was caught on video entering the vestibule, removing money from the collection bins, and then leaving.

Several collection bins for church offerings were destroyed during the process, police said.

Undercover police officers then used real-time surveillance cameras; they said Muniz returned to the church on the afternoon of Feb. 16. Muniz carried several prying tools that he allegedly used to enter the boxes.

Muniz was taken into custody without incident, police said. During an interview with investigators, Muniz admitted to thefts at several area churches as well, according to police reports.

"This is an unfortunate example of desperate times calling for desperate measures," said Superintendent of Police Christopher B. Flanagan.

"Houses of worship should be a place of reflection and solitude; not a location for committing crimes," Flanagan added.

The Superintendent said Radnor Township detectives put in many hours of investigation and surveillance, sharing information with neighboring police departments.

Muniz remains in George Hill Correctional Facility, police said.

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