Church Burglary Suspect Arrested

MORTON GROVE, IL — Morton Grove police have arrested a man who they say stole religious artifacts and money from St. Martha's church. Earlier this month, police released surveillance images of a man and a woman who they said took money from donation boxes from the church at 8523 Georgiana Avenue in May.

The pair was caught on tape taking two medals and breaking a plaque and fishing around in the collections box.

On Monday, a detective assigned to the case found and arrested Samuel Dellano of Chicago, according to Morton Grove Police Cmdr. Paul Yaras.

Dellano was found to be in possession of the same tool that he used to steal money from donation boxes, Yaras said. He was charged with burglary and possession of burglary tools. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Morton Grove & Niles — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Police are still seeking his accomplice. Anyone with any information about the incident or has been asked to call the Morton Grove Police Department at 847-470-5200.

Rev. Dennis O'Neill, of St. Martha's, told the Morton Grove Champion the stolen medals were gifts from the Archbishop of Mexico City from the 17th century. He said he had let the man and woman into the church on in order to look at some of the relics on display.

But O'Neill only realized items were missing from the display about a month later. When he checked through the church's security camera footage, he discovered video of the theft.

Top photo: Surveillance images from May 25 theft at St. Martha's | via Morton Grove Police Department