Church Donation Box Thief Nabbed, Police Say

CLEARWATER, FL — A 49-year-old Clearwater man faces burglary charges after police say he swiped a donation box from a local church recently.

The crime in question occurred last Wednesday, March 30 at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, 820 Jasmine Way. Police say the man entered the unlocked church around 5 p.m. and ripped the donation box off the concrete wall it was anchored to. The box was estimated to contain about $20 in cash, but was worth $150, police wrote in an email to media.

The act was captured on church surveillance video, the agency said.

On Friday, police were called out to South Missouri Avenue and Druid Road and happened to spot a man that fit the description of their burglary suspect, the email said. Officers made contact with Richard Thoni and brought him into custody after questioning him, the email said.

Thoni was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Friday and remained their Monday in lieu of $5,000 bond, jail records indicate.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail

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