St. Mary Nativity Collection Basket Thief Arrested: Police

JOLIET, IL - A 61-year-old woman who was involved with St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church on North Broadway Street was arrested Friday by the Joliet Police Department on two felony charges of theft. Kimberly Eichelberger is accused of stealing from the Catholic Church on Nov. 4 and also between Oct. 21 and Nov. 4. The criminal complaint was filed Friday at the Will County Courthouse by Joliet Police Department Detective Jeff German.

Eichelberger, the complaint reads, "knowingly obtained unauthorized control over property of St. Mary Nativity Catholic Church ... U.S. currency and the theft was committed in a place of worship ... and the property had a value exceeding $500 and not exceeding $10,000, and she did so intending to deprive St. Mary Nativity Church permanently of the use or benefit of said property."

The Joliet Police Department's report of the investigation indicates that the Joliet woman was arrested Friday on the warrant for felony theft. She was booked at the Joliet Police Station and released on a $1,000 cash bond, reports state.

Joliet Police opened their investigation on Oct. 24 after "a report was made at the Joliet Police Department front desk of a possible theft. The victim stated that they were concerned that Eichelberger might be taking money from collected funds."

According to the police, "detectives were able to determine that Eichelberger had stolen money out of the collected funds on several occasions. Detectives secured an arrest warrant for Eichelberger" and at 1 p.m. Friday she was arrested.

Eichelberger lives in the 1400 block of Frederick Street, court records show. She was not processed at the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

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