Police Searching for Church Robber

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ High Springs Police are searching for a man they believe broke into three locked and secured donation boxes at St. Madeleine Catholic Church, 17155 N.W. U.S. Highway 441, High Springs.

The High Springs Police Department (HSPD) responded to a theft/criminal mischief and petit theft report on Sunday, Sept. 12.

According to a HSPD report, at approximately 2 p.m. what is believed to be a 2002 silver/grey four-door Toyota Camry with dark tinted windows pulled into the sanctuary's parking lot. Moments later, a man is observed entering the sanctuary. The suspect is then observed breaking into three locked and secured donation boxes with a small pry bar tool, destroying all three boxes and stealing approximately $100.

The suspect is a male of possible middle eastern/Hispanic/Italian ethnicity, believed to be 45 to 55 years old. He was dressed in a green short-sleeved tee-shirt with horizontal stripes, navy blue pants and dark-colored shoes. He appears to be approximately five-feet, six inches to five-feet eight inches tall and weighs about 200-220 lbs. He has black hair that is starting to grey with slight balding on top, thick black eyebrows, black mustache, average medium build, with an olive-colored skin complexion.

“We are hoping a member of the public can identify this man,” said High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard. “We have received some tips and our investigators are currently running them down to try to identify the suspect,” he said.

Anyone with information or possible identification of the suspect is asked to call the High Springs Police Department via the Combined Communications Center at 352-955-1818.

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