A thief who tried to pilfer the collection boxes of a Brooklyn church hid for some two hours in the holy building’s basement before cops – with guns drawn – pulled him out and busted him.
The unidentified 19 year old was a former parishioner who hopped a side gate at the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. George in Dyker Heights around 11:15 am, and then broke a bathroom window to get inside, said a priest.
The teen made straight for the church’s row of collection boxes – which were stuffed after the church’s all-night-long New Year’s Eve ceremony.
He broke into three boxes – ripping one off a wall – before getting spooked and running into the basement to hide.
The teen had stopped attending services several years ago, priests said, and didn’t know the church had recently installed security cameras.
His actions were caught on tape and witnessed by the sharp-eyed parishioner who monitors St. George’s surveillance feed.
Cops arrived and surrounded the church on 67th Street and 11th Avenue, and also called on a department helicopter and police dogs for assistance.
Police found the light-fingered teen cowering behind some desks in the church basement, and hauled him outside around 1:15 p.m. – but he denied that he’d tried to steal the collection cash.
“”What money? I didn’t take any money,” said the suspect, clad in a hoodie sweatshirt.
One parishioner who asked not to be named said he knew the suspect from his former church days.
“He was a good kid, he just wanted to talk and hang out. He’s not been around since he was maybe 12. He must have gotten in with the wrong crowd. I heard he was a troublemaker, but still I’m surprised by this.”
Father Luke Awad, who declined to identify the teen because he said the boy’s family still attends St. George, said the sinner was welcome to return to the church.
“I will help him get his life back on track,” said Father Awad. “Just repent – that would be his punishment.”