Serial Church Thief Faces Charges for Robbing Several Connecticut Churches

Church is supposed to be a safe haven but a number of local houses of worship are not feeling so secure after a Connecticut man was caught stealing a purse, car keys and money from several collections boxes, according to a report in the Wilton Bulletin.

Francis Casner, 50, of East Haven, turned himself in to police on July 8 after a warrant was issued for the theft of a donation box from Our Lady of Fatima Church on Danbury Road in Wilton in early March.

When police brought him in, they found he was wanted by the Ridgefield Police Department for allegedly stealing money from a donation box at St. Mary’s Church on Catoonah Street.

North Branford police arrested Casner on April 14 when an employee at St. Augustine Church on Caputo Road reported a suspicious individual on church grounds.

According to the Wilton Bulletin, Casner was found to be in possession of a cash box reported stolen from St. Augustine, a wooden offering box, a purse reported stolen from St. George Church in Guilford, and a set of car keys stolen from the Jesuit Community Center on the campus of Fairfield University.

The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch shows Casner is due in New Haven Court on Sept. 9 to answer to the following charges:

• Two counts of sixth-degree larceny for an incident in Madison
• 3 counts of 6th degree larceny and one of 5th degree larceny for an incident in April in North Branford
• One count of criminal trespass and possession of narcotics

He is scheduled to appear at the Danbury Superior Court on Sept. 10 for the theft in Ridgefield.

Click here to read more on the Wilton Bulletin.